Regional Trade Agreements and Sustainable Development in Developing Countries

Over the years regional trade agreements have been set up to facilitate trade, intra-regional economic activities and improve business stability and security (Debrah et al., 2024). From the North American Free Trade Agreements (NAFTA), the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), these agreements are influenced by and influence international trade (Baier & Bergstrand, 2007), institutional environments (Baccini, 2014) and economic growth (Hur & Park, 2012). More so as regional integration increases the opportunities for international business and reduces the attending risks from information asymmetries, uncertainties, and distance – economic, cultural, or administrative (Alday, 2022). These regional agreements and regionalisation have been touted to benefit international business and globalisation, as they provide better opportunities to monitor value chains, markets, and suppliers (Debrah et al., 2024).

In Africa, regional agreements like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Commission (SADC), East African Development Commission (EADC), have been in existence over the years and have improved the member states and regions.  These agreements, whilst beneficial, have not sought to establish continental unity. The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), established in March 2018 by the African Union and currently signed by 54 African countries and ratified by 46 is the first and largest regional agreement made to enable a more united trade front for the African continent. Though extremely diverse, academics, policy makers and businesses are optimistic about the potential that a continental free trade agreement could have in bolstering trade in the region. Yet, increasing trade openness has been negatively correlated to environmental quality and sustainability (Oppoku-Mensah et al., 2021). More so as most member states are in low latitude zones where the risks of exposure to the debilitating effects of climate change are highest (Arreyndip, 2021; Bekoe and Jalloh, 2023).

This PhD research will interrogate the policy implications and opportunities that the AfCFTA provides for sustainable development in a developing continent, like Africa where most of its countries are not on track to meeting the intended goals and targets of the United Nations sustainable development goals and fall short on all five development pillars-  prosperity, planet, people, peace, partnerships (UNECA, 2022). Precisely, the research will explore the following research questions:

1. What does the intersection of regional trade agreements and sustainability mean for developing economies, globalisation and sustainable development?
2. How important is policy, economic and geographic context in understanding sustainable development and what is the implication for international trade?

The impact of this scholarly endeavour extends beyond just academia and aims to provide significant insights for policymakers, and industry leaders. The research is poised to inform strategies for sustainable development, foreign investment, and globalisation in an increasingly polarised world. The blend of practical importance and academic rigour is designed to improve our understanding of unique contexts like the developing economies in Africa.

How to apply

Formal applications can be submitted via the University of Bradford web site; applicants will need to register an account and select ‘Full-time PhD in Business and Management’ as the course, and then specify the project title when prompted.

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