State-owned enterprises (SOEs) have increasingly expanded in number and reach in the last decades, raising concerns over trade-distorting subsidies and lack of transparency in international markets. Yet, under international trade law, SOEs remain undefined. This definitional gap prompts several questions: what is an SOE? How does it differ from other State-related entities? Which of its features deserve regulation due to their trade-disruptive potential?
This book offers the first systematic analysis of SOEs definitional criteria across multilateral, plurilateral and bilateral trade agreements, tracing regulatory approaches in Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Africa and Europe. It finally proposes reforms of WTO rules to address identified potential gaps in SOE regulation, with a view to establish a more consistent and effective international trade regime capable of tackling contemporary challenges.