the objective of this study is to analyze the interaction between trade and non-trade cooperation in some of the today's major regional initiatives, particularly those between developing and industrialized countries. the study suggests a framework to explore what the paper calls a "trade and cooperation nexus". the modalities of this nexus can take different forms. for instance, non-trade cooperation may be an integral part of a formal trade or integration agreement, or may take place independently of such an agreement, as an ex-ante, ex-post or parallel agreement. this paper analyzes the eu approach, which proposes an unusually tight trade and cooperation nexus based on a three-pillar approach uniting political, economic and trade cooperation under a single umbrella agreement. theoretically this approach should be attractive, especially in north-south agreements, because the promise of linking free trade with cooperation programs could enhance the benefits of the former for both pa...
