Labor Provisions in Trade Agreements (LABPTA) Dataset
The LABPTA dataset classifies labor provisions in preferential trade agreements (PTAs) into 6 broad categories and 140 detailed subcategories. It also provides three separate measures of the stringency of labor-related commitments in PTAs. The dataset can be utilized in a gravity framework to determine the effects of PTAs with labor provisions on trade and other economic outcomes of interest.
Version 2.0 (August 2025)
This version of LABPTA provides the following coverage:
- 610 preferential trade agreements
- 196 countries with at least 1 PTA
- 1990-2021
- Labor provisions classified into 6 broad categories and 140 subcategories
- 3 measures of the stringency of labor provisions in PTAs
Download
The dataset is available for download as comma-separated (csv) files (302 KB)
Labor provisions stringency measures (30KB)
Recommended citation for version 2.0
If you do not use the measure of the depth of labor provisions, please cite the following:
- Raess, D. and Sari, D. (2025). Labor Provisions in Trade Agreements (LABPTA) Codebook and Coding Version 2.0, 1990-2021. [Data Collection]. Washington, DC: U.S. International Trade Commission. https://doi.org/10.71894/7wan-ct06
- Raess, D. and Sari, D. (2018). Labor Provisions in Trade Agreements (LABPTA): Introducing a New Dataset, Global Policy 9(4): 451-466.
- Ahmad, S., Raess, D. and Thome K. (2023). Do Female Workers in Developing Countries Benefit from Labor Provisions in PTAs? Economics Working Paper Series, Working Paper 2023–10–E, U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington DC.
If you use the measure of the depth of labor provisions, please cite the following:
- Raess, D. and Sari, D. (2025). Labor Provisions in Trade Agreements (LABPTA) Codebook and Coding Version 2.0, 1990-2021. [Data Collection]. Washington, DC: U.S. International Trade Commission. https://doi.org/10.71894/7wan-ct06
- Raess, D., Dür, A. and Sari, D. (2018). Protecting Labor Rights in Preferential Trade Agreements: The Role of Trade Unions, Left Governments, and Skilled Labor, Review of International Organizations 13(2): 143-162.
- Ahmad, S., Raess, D. and Thome K. (2023). Do Female Workers in Developing Countries Benefit from Labor Provisions in PTAs? Economics Working Paper Series, Working Paper 2023–10–E, U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington DC.
What is new in version 2.0
- LABPTA 1.0 was released on June 2021. It covers the period 1990-2015. Raess, D. and Sari, D. (2021). Labor Provisions in Trade Agreements (LABPTA) Codebook and Coding, 1990-2015. [Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Service. 10.5255/UKDA-SN-855014
- LABPTA 2.0 extends coverage to 1990-2021 incorporating a total of 118 additional PTAs.
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