%0 Journal Article %T The political economy of Turkey-EU customs union after the treaty of Lisbon: A Reappraisal %A Arianna Catalano %J Interdisciplinary Political Studies %D 2011 %I %X This article analyses the European Union¡¯s (EU) trade policy highlighting the gradual shift towards a more penetrating EU Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) policy and institutional changes brought about by the Treaty of Lisbon and their impact on trade policy¡¯s functioning. Emphasizing Turkey¡¯s changing trade patterns and stressing the growing salience of non-EU trade partners, the article opens up a debate on the rationale of current Customs Union. The analysis brings to the understanding of the on-going cases of trade deflection negatively affecting Turkish economy and the drawbacks arisen from the EU¡¯s changing FTA policy. Finally, the political and technical aspects of Turkey¡¯s accession process are discussed to shed further light on the current and future meaning behind today¡¯s Customs Union. %U http://www.idps.unisi.it/file_download/6/PolEconomyTurkey.pdf