This study is a developing country perspective related to the proliferation of bilateral agreements, their importance and relevance for the trading partners. Our study assesses these bilateral agreements and examines their potential contribution to growth in trade for the Economic and Social Commission of Western Asia (ESCWA region).Looking at the world map today we notice that most industrial and developing countries are members of a FTA, and many belong to more than one trade bloc creating what was advanced by Bhagwati as the "spaghetti bowl." A familiar gravity model will be used to see if...