1. UNSC Membership and PTAs Zachary and Taemin

2. Research Question
Is the United States more likely to form Preferential Trade Agreements with countries serving on the UN Security Council than with non-members?

3. Literature Review The political economy of the UNSC
Countries trade aid for legitimacy
How much is influence worth?
The determinants of PTA formation
Economic benefits
Political calculations

4. Hypothesis
The United States forms PTAs with small UNSC members to increase its influence.

5. Is Trade Different? Foreign aid Low cost Low visibility PTAs
Winners and losers
Organized and powerful opposition
Require legislative approval

6. Methodology
Vreeland and Dreher 2014
Baccini and Dur 2014

7. Descriptive Statistics

8. Initially Positive! UNSC Membership is significant across all models
Determinants of PTA Accession with US, Lagged 9-11 Years
UNSC Membership is significant across all models
Contagion, distance and population also significant

9. A Closer Look

10. Conclusion
Trade agreements may be too high a price to pay for influence on the UNSC
Domestic political concerns
The United States may use other forms of trade perks to buy influence
Bilateral Investment Treaties
Trade concessions