The dataset provides a detailed encoding (87 variables) of the competition provision (if any) in a random sample of 182 preferential trade agreements (PTAs) signed between 1945 and 2010 (where competition is understood in the sense of antitrust/competition law and policy). The sample was drawn from the 587 PTAs identified for this time period by the DESTA Project ("The Design of International Trade Agreements") and kindly shared by Dür and Elsig. The coding covers inter alia: whether the agreement entails an obligation to maintain a separate antitrust enforcement agency whether it specifies legitimate goals for antitrust enforcement (and if so which ones: consumer welfare efficiency protection of small and medium-sized enterprises industrial policy goals etc.) whether the agreement covers only "hard core" cartels or also "vertical" anti-competitive agreements and/or the abuse of dominance; whether there are exemptions for export cartels state-owned enterprises or particular industries (and if so which industries); whether the agreement recognizes an "efficiency defense"; whether the agreement covers mergers; whether it institutionalizes regulatory cooperation and if so in which form and how extensively; and whether the agreement contains a dispute settlement procedure that applies to the antitrust issues that arise between parties.
