Editing Free trade area (section)

== Databases on free trade areas ==
Since there are hundreds of free trade areas currently in force and being negotiated (about 800 according to ITC's [http://findrulesoforigin.org/home/agreements Rules of Origin Facilitator], counting also non-reciprocal trade arrangements), it is important for businesses and policy-makers to keep track of their status. There are a number of depositories of free trade agreements available either at national, regional or international levels. Some significant ones include the database on Latin American free trade agreements constructed by the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI),<ref>{{cite web |title=Acuerdos |url=http://www.aladi.org/sitioAladi/index.html |website=Latin American Integration Association |publisher=ALADI |access-date=5 June 2019 |archive-date=3 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203192754/http://www2.aladi.org/sitioAladi/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> the database maintained by the Asian Regional Integration Center (ARIC) providing information agreements of Asian countries,<ref>{{cite web |title= FTAs |url=https://aric.adb.org/fta-country |website=Free Trade Agreements |publisher=ARIC |access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref> and the portal on the European Union's free trade negotiations and agreements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/negotiations-and-agreements/|title=Negotiations and agreements|website=European Commission}}</ref>

At the international level, there are two important free access databases developed by international organizations for policy-makers and businesses:

'''WTO's [http://rtais.wto.org/ui/PublicMaintainRTAHome.aspx Regional Trade Agreements Information System]'''

As WTO members are obliged to notify to the Secretariat their free trade agreements, this database is constructed based on the most official source of information on free trade agreements (referred to as regional trade agreements in the WTO language). The database allows users to seek information on trade agreements notified to the WTO by country or by topic (goods, services or goods and services). This database provides users with an updated list of all agreements in force, however, those not notified to the WTO may be missing. It also displays reports, tables and graphs containing statistics on these agreements, and particularly preferential tariff analysis.<ref>{{cite web |title=RTAIS |url=http://rtais.wto.org/ui/PublicMaintainRTAHome.aspx |website=Regional Trade Agreements Information System |publisher=WTO |access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref>

'''ITC's [https://www.macmap.org/ Market Access Map]'''

The Market Access Map was developed by the [[International Trade Centre]] (ITC) with the objectives to facilitate businesses, governments and researchers in market access issues. The database, visible via the online tool Market Access Map, includes information on tariff and non-tariff barriers in all active trade agreements, not limited to those officially notified to the WTO. It also documents data on non-preferential trade agreements (for instance, Generalized System of Preferences schemes). Up until 2019, Market Access Map has provided downloadable links to texts agreements and their rules of origin.<ref>{{cite web |title= MacMap |url=https://www.macmap.org/ |website=Market Access Map |publisher=ITC |access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref> The new version of Market Access Map forthcoming this year will provide direct web links to relevant agreement pages and connect itself to other ITC's tools, particularly the [http://findrulesoforigin.org/ Rules of Origin Facilitator]. It is expected to become a versatile tool which assists enterprises in understanding free trade agreements and qualifying for origin requirements under these agreements.<ref>{{cite web |title=ROOF |url=http://findrulesoforigin.org/ |website=Rules of Origin Facilitator |publisher=ITC |access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref>