The WTO Regional Trade Agreements (RTA) Database is a comprehensive resource maintained by the World Trade Organization. It compiles information on all regional trade agreements officially notified by WTO Members, offering a global overview of trade arrangements in place today. Updated regularly, the database presents a clear and accessible map of existing RTAs (also commonly referred to as preferential trade agreements) and their evolving features. Data is structured for easy use and analysis, with download options available in Excel and CSV formats.
Key Data Components:
1. Agreement profiles
Each RTA includes details such as:
- Agreement name and WTO legal provisions
- participating countries and territories
- Key dates: signature, notification, and entry into force
- Coverage and type of agreement (e.g., free trade area, customs union)
- Official Internet links to the Text of the Agreement (including to the related schedules, annexes and protocols)
- Direct access to relevant documents relating to the WTO Consideration Process of the Agreement
2. Provisions contained in each RTA
- RTAs are categorized based on their content and commitments. Information includes e.g. Provisions on tariff elimination, rules of origin, trade facilitation, Dispute settlement mechanisms etc.
- A comprehensive list of all selected provisions covered is available from the RTA Provisions (Glossary)
3. Trade and tariff-related Data
- Tariff elimination/reduction schedules and market access commitments
- The dataset also includes rich metadata, such as implementation timelines, amendments to agreements, and details on countries that joined an agreement after its initial entry into force based on received notifications. This structure supports comparative analysis across agreements and regions, making the database a valuable tool for researchers, policymakers, and trade professionals. It also allows users to extract and compare preferential tariff commitments made by a party within different RTAs for different partners for selected products, based on information provided by the parties in accordance with the Transparency Mechanism for RTAs. Users should be aware that actual preferential rates may differ from those available here.
4. RTA Tracker and Graphs
- WTO Figures on RTAs: provides key numbers on all RTAs notified to the WTO
- RTAs by country/territory: provides comprehensive information on all RTAs notified by a specific country/territory, including a direct access to its latest WTO Tariff and Trade Profiles, as well as to its latest WTO Trade Policy Review
- Graphs are provided to show the evolution of RTAs over time, as well as their repartition by Region