Joining an exciting regional trade agreement: issues and policies from the perspective of a small open economy in Latin America
This paper attempts to identify important analytical issues involved in the joining of an existing trade agreement from the perspective of a small open economy in Latin America. As such, this paper does not examine the global welfare implications of such initiatives. The analysis considers the possibility of joining NAFTA whilst simultaneously exploring a special preferential status with other subregional agreements. Chile, for example, is considering the possibility of joining NAFTA while simultaneously negotiating a preferential status with MERCOSUR (Chile is not a member of MERCOSUR nor of The Andean Group). Colombia, Peru or Venezuela could consider the same option. These countries all belong to the Andean group and have expressed interest in joining NAFTA. Argentina, a member of MERCOSUR, has expressed and interest in joining NAFTA. Hopefully, the framework presented could be usefull in delineating a negotiating strategy. The first part simply identifies two important issues regarding the debate con multilateralism versus free trade areas, namely the potential effect on the level of external trade barriers (applying third country imports) and rules of origin as a key element. The second part attempts to identify arguments for and against joining an established FTA. The last section concludes with some thoughts on a negotiating strategy for a small open economy that is considering joining an FTA. (MV)
Main Authors: | , , , |
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Format: | Texto biblioteca |
Language: | eng |
Published: |
San José (Costa Rica)
1995
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Subjects: | AMERICA LATINA, COMERCIO INTERNACIONAL, INTEGRACION, NAFTA, MERCOSUR, GATT, ACUERDOS COMERCIALES, BARRERAS COMERCIALES, , |
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Summary: | This paper attempts to identify important analytical issues involved in the joining of an existing trade agreement from the perspective of a small open economy in Latin America. As such, this paper does not examine the global welfare implications of such initiatives. The analysis considers the possibility of joining NAFTA whilst simultaneously exploring a special preferential status with other subregional agreements. Chile, for example, is considering the possibility of joining NAFTA while simultaneously negotiating a preferential status with MERCOSUR (Chile is not a member of MERCOSUR nor of The Andean Group). Colombia, Peru or Venezuela could consider the same option. These countries all belong to the Andean group and have expressed interest in joining NAFTA. Argentina, a member of MERCOSUR, has expressed and interest in joining NAFTA. Hopefully, the framework presented could be usefull in delineating a negotiating strategy. The first part simply identifies two important issues regarding the debate con multilateralism versus free trade areas, namely the potential effect on the level of external trade barriers (applying third country imports) and rules of origin as a key element. The second part attempts to identify arguments for and against joining an established FTA. The last section concludes with some thoughts on a negotiating strategy for a small open economy that is considering joining an FTA. (MV) |
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