The Influence of the European Union’s Preferential Trade Agreements on Civil Liberties and Political Freedoms in Lesser Developed Countries: A Quantitative Approach

The European Union (EU) is been increasingly incorporating Non-Trade Issues (NTIs) clauses in their Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) agreements. These NTIs include civil liberties and political freedoms obligations third countries must subscribe to in order to receive the benefits of trade through these agreements. When these agreements are in place, presumably, third countries will be more aware of their practices and ensure a suitable level of civil liberties and political freedoms, so as not to lose the economic relationship with the EU; however, since the EU has never suspended an economic agreement in the event of gross civil liberties violations or sudden political upheaval, the question becomes: are NTIs in PTAs effective in monitoring or regulating civil liberties and political freedoms in third countries? This research finds that the answer to this question is very complicated, and countries who have PTAs with the EU are more likely to be in the lowest category in terms of civil liberties and political freedoms. However, these trade agreements create an open communication channel for the EU and third countries to discuss civil liberties and political freedoms, in the hopes of influencing positive reform.