Do Regional Trade Agreements affect agri-food trade?

The number of Regional Trade Agreements (RTSa) globally has been increasing exponentially over the years, generating an increase in the number of studies that have evaluated their effect on bilateral trade flows. Afesorgbor's research is a meta-analysis of several studies which have examined the impact of trade agreements on agri-food trade.

The results from these studies vary greatly, making it difficult for policymakers to understand whether or not RTAs affect agri-food trade.

Using the quantitative tool of meta-analysis, Afesorgbor analyzed 61 previous studies that examined the effect of various RTAs on agri-food trade. His results show that ther is publication bias in the literature but also that RTAs promote agri-food trade in a positive and significant way.

This effect depends largely on the depth of economic integration of the RTA (custom unions vs. free trade agreement) as well as whether agri-food products are primary or processed. Ex-post average effects of RTAs on agri-food trade vary from 23-68% when we control for heterogeneity and/or publication bias.

About Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor

Dr Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor currently a Visiting Professor (Jean Monnet Fellow) at the European University Institute, Florence, Italy.

He is an Associate Professor of Agri-Food Trade and Policy at the Department of Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics, University of Guelph, Canada, and a Research Associate at the Environment for Development (EfD) Initiative. 

Apart from his academic work, he is the Executive Founder of the international Think Tank, Centre for Trade Analysis and Development (CETAD Africa) based in Ghana. He consults on occasion for international organizations such as the African Development Bank and International Trade Centre.