The Effects of Investment Treaties and Trade Agreements on FDI: The Case of Serbia

This study explores the effects of Bilateral Investment Treaties (BIT) and Regional Trade Agreements (RTA) on foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Serbia, utilizing panel data for 2010–2021. The results indicate that both BIT and RTA independently exert positive impacts on Serbia's inward FDI. Also, the interaction effects between BIT and RTA dummies and export/import variables on inward FDI are positive. This suggests that the implementation of BITs and/or RTAs fosters a complementary relationship between trade and FDI in Serbia as the predominant type of FDIs from partner states with which Serbia shares BITs and/or RTAs is vertical and export-platform rather than horizontal.