PART I Theoretical framework and economic overview 1. Bilateral trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific by VINOD K. AGGARWAL 2. The political economy of the new Asia-Pacific bilateralism: benign, banal, or simply bad? by JOHN RAVENHILL 3. Bilateralism in the Asia-Pacific: an economic overview by FUKUNARI KIMURA PART II Case studies 4. Japan: a new move toward bilateral trade agreements by T.J. PEMPEL AND SHUJIRO URATA 5. US trade arrangements in the Asia-Pacific by RICHARD E. FEINBERG 6. Chinese trade bilateralism: politics still in command by ELAINE S. KWEI 7. From multilateralism to bilateralism? a shift in South Korea's trade strategy by MIN GYO KOO 8. Who rules the international economy? Taiwan's daunting attempts at bilateralism by ROSELYN Y. HSUEH 9. Singapore trade bilateralism: a two track strategy by SEUNGJOO LEE 10. Why countries are so eager to establish bilateral free trade agreements: a case study of Thailand by KOZO KIYOTA 11. The reluctant bilateralist: Malaysia's new trade strategy by YUMIKO OKAMOTO 12. Free trade beyond NAFTA: the economic and institutional rationale for Mexico's bilateral trade agenda by RALPH ESPACH PART III Conclusion 13. The evolution and implications of bilateral trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific by VINOD K. AGGARWAL AND MIN GYO KOO.