A common view holds that global treaties are individually crafted agreements. However, this research reveals a widespread practice of copying content from earlier deals in preferential trade agreements (PTAs). Using text analysis on hundreds of PTAs, the study finds substantial word-for-word replication.

The Myth of Unique Negotiations

The idea that international agreements are unique is challenged by evidence showing extensive copying. Most PTAs copy a large portion of their content directly from templates.

Dominance of Copying and Pasting

This practice occurs across all treaty types, but especially in important substantive chapters which often contain copied text verbatim.

Who Copies? Low-capacity governments rely heavily on templates while powerful states actively disseminate preferred rules through copying.

The Significance The findings reshape our understanding of international cooperation and have broad implications for institutional design, policy diffusion, state power dynamics, and legal fragmentation theories.