南北經濟關係、進化中的多邊主義與南北區域貿易協定政治經濟學

North-South Economic Relations, Evolving Multilateralism and the Political Economy of North-South Regional Trade Agreements

本文主旨是在較寬廣的南北關係的體系環境裡論述南北區域貿易協定（regional trade Agreement, 簡稱RTAs）的擴散現象。作者首先舉證南北差異（North-South divide）仍然是當前全球政治經濟的特徵，凸顯南北問題與動力並未靜止下來。本文的第二節則聚焦於當代南北關係的關鍵因素，即新興經濟體的崛起以及這些經濟體對整體多邊主義（multilateralism）與世界貿易組織的衝擊，尤其是後者。本文最後是探討南北關係是如何著床於南北區域貿易協定的。

This paper situates the proliferation of North-South regional trade agreements within the wider systemic context of North-South relations. The first part of the paper argues that the North-South divide remains a relevant feature of the contemporary global political economy. It shows that North-South issues and dynamics are constantly evolving and should not be conceived in static terms. The second part of the paper focuses on a key aspect of contemporary North-South relations i.e. the rise of new economic powers and their impact on multilateralism in general, and the world trading system more specifically. The final part of the paper interrogates the ways in which North-South relations are embedded in North-South regional trade agreements.