The institutionalization of the international regime for trade in goods and services: the case of agricultural products

Abstract

1995 marks a new era in the evolution of the World Trading System, with the institutionalization of the international regime applicable to world trade in goods and services, including agricultural products. From an institutionalist theoretical approach to the theory of international regimes, the objective of this article is to analyze the agreements and understandings that govern world trade in agricultural products, taking the principles, substantive and procedural rules, operating and decision-making processes as categories of analysis. As this regime is a more general one, some of the principles, substantive and procedural rules are found in the general regime and others include specific rules for this type of trade.