Interest group preferences towards trade agreements: institutional design matters

Abstract Interest groups play a key role in the political economy of preferential trade agreements (PTAs). Their support for or opposition to planned PTA tends be crucial determining fate PTAs. But which PTAs receive from (which) interest groups? Clearly, design PTA, that is, types provisions are (not) included agreement, is essential respect. We argue and trade-related provisions, such as those regulate services protection intellectual property rights, mainly increase among export-oriented business groups. In contrast, inclusion non-trade namely clauses aimed at environmental labour standards, makes citizen groups, unions, import-competing more supportive agreements. Relying on original data survey across globe, including conjoint experiment, we find argument different value differently. Interestingly, however, little difference between interests. Our study speaks research policy.