Question

What are Ireland's Regional trade agreements? Provide credible Sources and at least one paragraph of information

What are the government incentives for conducting business in Ireland? Provide credible Sources and at least one paragraph of information

What are the tariff and trade barriers Ireland has? Provide credible Sources and at least one paragraph of information

Answer 1

In the WTO, regional trade agreements (RTAs) are defined as reciprocal trade agreements between two or more partners. They include free trade agreements and customs unions.

Non-discrimination among trading partners is one of the core principles of the WTO; however, RTAs constitute one of the exemptions and are authorized under the WTO, subject to a set of rules. In line with these rules, and also recognizing the need to enhance transparency and increase understanding of RTAs' impact on interests of WTO members, the WTO Secretariat was instructed by WTO members to gather information on RTAs. The organization also provides a forum for discussions on the implications of RTAs for the wider multilateral trading system

Non-discrimination is a core principle of the WTO. Members have committed, in general, not to favour one trading partner over another. An exception to this rule is RTAs. These deals, by their very nature, are discriminatory as only their signatories enjoy more favourable market-access conditions. WTO members recognize the legitimate role of RTAs which aim at facilitating trade between its parties but which do not raise trade barriers vis-à-vis third-parties.

There are mixed views on RTA's effects on global trade liberalization. Though RTAs are designed to benefit signatory countries, expected benefits may be undercut if distortions in resource allocation as well as trade and investment diversion are not minimized.

Two broad policy lessons have emerged from OECD work in this area. The first is that the actual effects of RTAs bolster the case for a strengthened multilateral framework, particularly when regionalism leads to a patchwork effect between members and non-members within the concerned region, and thereby raise transaction costs for business. A second lesson is that while some consequences of RTA activity contribute to the case for strengthening the multilateral framework, some features of regional approaches may complement multilateral rules. The scope for such complementarity arises from the contribution which regional initiatives can make towards multilaterally-driven liberalisation and harmonious rule-making that goes beyond the WTO. Together, these two elements have yielded highly effective synergies between approaches at the regional and multilateral levels.

These studies examine legal provisions concerning technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures in RTAs, assessing their degree of similarity and convergence with the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, as well as with each other. An analysis of African RTAs describes concrete steps that countries have taken in order to reduce technical barriers in South-South arrangements.

Article XI of the GATT 1994 is the main provision regulating quantitative restrictions (QRs). The scope of this provision includes all prohibitions or restrictions other than tariffs or other taxes applied or maintained by a WTO Member on the importation or exportation of goods, which can be made effective through quotas, import or export licensing procedures, or other measures. Although Article XI of the GATT provides for the general elimination of quantitative restrictions, they are allowed in certain specific circumstances. Members' QR notifications seek to provide transparency on these measures, including on its WTO justification.

The purpose of this guide is to provide Canadian companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with an overview of European Union (EU) legislation affecting their exports to Europe.

This guide complements the information about EU markets and sectors provided by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service. It is an additional tool offered by the Government of Canada to assist Canadian exporters. The guide covers legislation harmonized by the EU, but does not describe specific rules that exist within EU member states.

Understanding EU regulatory requirements is key to export success in the EU. This guide provides the information needed to access the EU market, and answers the questions most frequently asked by Canadian exporters about topics such as CE marking, customs duties, intellectual property rights, data protection and environmental regulations. The guide also includes essential links to additional information and guidance on how to comply with EU rules.

Disclaimer: All information on EU legislation mentioned in this Guide is publicly available on the EU website and was current at the time of publication.

While we have made every attempt to ensure the information contained in this Guide has been obtained from reliable sources, the Government of Canada is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information in this Guide is provided “as is” with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Nothing herein shall to any extent substitute for the independent investigations and the sound technical and business judg