Asymmetries in trade and investment regimes in the Age of COVID-19 and beyond: A reflection on subnational government marginalisation and resistance

Omiunu, O. (2020)

First published August 26, 2020, on Afronomicslaw.org 

Introduction

The disruptions caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic are a stark reminder of inequalities in the institutional and governance framework of trade and investment regimes. Focusing on the role of sub-national governments in international trade and investment regimes, I argue that this level of government has conventionally been a marginalised voice in the institutional setup. However, in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic, disruptions to international trade and investment regimes have had devastating impacts on these levels of government, due to the territorial dimension of the COVID-19 crisis.

As a consequence, sub-national governments have been thrust into the limelight as ‘glocal’ actors responding to the global public health emergency. In fulfilling this ‘glocal’ role, I highlight a growing propensity of sub-national governments to challenge the status quo. More importantly, I argue that as the intermestic nature of trade and investment norms are becoming more evident, the COVID-19 Pandemic offers us an opportunity to reflect on the changing role of sub-national governments as activists and sites of resistance against inequalities in international trade and investment rules.

Institutional asymmetries in trade and investment regimes: A history of subnational government marginalisation and resistance

Sub-national government leadership in the Age of COVID-19

The African context: An absence of sub-national voices in the economic integration process?

Conclusion