Beginning in the middle of the past century, regional economic integration has been one of the key trends in the world economy. In various regions of the world, individual groups of countries have launched a variety of integration projects and initiatives devised to ensure deeper interconnection of national economies. During the past few decades, against the backdrop of a slowdown in the global economy and a significant reduction in international trade growth, economic integration is gaining new significance, with the pace set by the enlargement of regional integration entities and the formation of megaregional trade agreements with the active participation of the world’s leading economies. The formation and promotion of megapartnerships have become a key point in the economic and political agendas of leading world powers.
So, what role does the integration of megapartnerships play in the transformation of world trade? Is trans-regionalization a logical evolution of the world economy and a path towards globalization, or will it lead to fragmentation of the global economic architecture? Do EAEU countries need their own “economic identity” in the context of active regional economic integration processes? What risks and opportunities does the integration of megapartnerships pose for the EAEU?