in Findlay et al (2003). Observations suggest
that FTAs in East Asia have the following characteristics. First, they are being pursued within a “multilayered”
trade policy involving bilateral, regional and multilateral initiatives. Governments in the region
appear to be confident that they can pursue all trade policy options at the same time. The fact is that the
many FTA proposals absorb a lot of attention and scarce policy-making resources. Perhaps unintentionally,
these FTAs create a systematic threat to the WTO and the Doha Development Round.