The Evolving Role of Trade Agreements in Shaping Global Market Dynamics

Abstract

Trade deals are no longer just about cutting tariffs. They are now legal and regulatory structures that reshuffle and reconfigure supply chains, the flows of investment, and the rules of the game across entire regions. Even before 2025, this transformation was evidenced by the mega-regional trade agreements RCEP and CPTPP, as well as the empirical studies of “deep” trade agreements.