Legal Instruments of Integration (IJI) Observatory

This month’s trends

During this period, the outlook for regional trade policy was characterized mainly by the presentation of the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and the discussions around this. Similarly, the immigration crisis in Central America and disputes in Venezuela also dominated the agenda. There have been advances on existing agreements, notably the regional agreements between Chile, Central America, and Mexico with partners both within and outside the region, and the agreements of major integration blocs like ALADI, ACS, the MERCOSUR, SICA, and SELA. Progress was also made on new and advanced negotiations.

 

360º Panorama

Over the course of the month, progress was made on one new agreement, thirty-five existing agreements, and ten trade negotiations (seven advanced and three concluded).

 

New Agreement

• Free trade agreement between Chile and Thailand enters into force (in Spanish)

 

Advanced Negotiations

• Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) sees the light of day (in Spanish)

• The TPP will be signed in February and will enter into force within two years (in Spanish)

• Pacific Alliance: Peru ratifies additional protocol for the Pacific Alliance framework agreement (in Spanish)

• CELAC defines extraregional relations and prepares upcoming summit

• Second round of negotiations takes place for FTA between Central America and Korea (in Spanish)

• Ecuador and Turkey move towards a trade agreement (in Spanish)

• Fourth round of negotiations for FTA between Peru and Turkey begins with significant results (in Spanish)

 

Concluded Negotiations

• Panama and Colombia reach seventh round of negotiations (in Spanish)

• The European Union supports trade agreement with Ecuador but calls for action on social issues (in Spanish)

• Panama and Israel conclude negotiations and will sign a free trade agreement (in Spanish)

 

Selected News on Trade Agreements Currently in Force

• ALBA/TCP: Hemispheric meeting on Latin American integration begins in Cuba (in Spanish)

• ACS: Leaders from 21 countries in the Caribbean and Central America meet to support MSMEs (in Spanish)

• Panama and Trinidad and Tobago are interested in expanding trade (in Spanish)

• Latin American Integration Association (ALADI): Fourth Meeting of Government Officials Specializing in Trade in Services Statistics (in Spanish)

• Latin America/Asia Pacific Business Forum (in Spanish)

• Bolivia/Chile Partial Scope ECA 22: Controversies over the facilities Chile provides for Bolivia’s maritime trade (in Spanish)

• Central America/European Union: Deadlines have been set for reimbursement of duties on imports from the EU (in Spanish)

• Costa Rica is open to reviewing its treaty with the European Union (in Spanish)

• Chile/Peru: Peruvian border control increases tension in relations with Chile (in Spanish)

• The EU and Chile are working to conclude updating their bilateral agreement in 2017 (in Spanish)

• Colombia/Venezuela: In search of a Venezuela–Colombia border agreement (in Spanish)

• Costa Rica/People’s Republic of China: Costa Rica approves first vote concerning the investment promotion agreement with China (in Spanish)

• Caribbean Community (CARICOM): CARICOM Secretary visits Brazil to strengthen links (in Spanish)

• MERCOSUR: Committee of Permanent Representatives of MERCOSUR meet (in Spanish)

• MERCOSUR/Bolivia: Bolivia seeks special treatment in trade agreement with Germany and the European Union (in Spanish)

• MERCOSUR/Chile: Chile and Brazil sign historic economic and trade cooperation agreement (in Spanish)

• Mexico/EU:Mexico and the EU make headway on Economic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (in Spanish)

• Panama/Chinese Taipei: Panama and Taiwan sign agreement (in Spanish)

• Panama/Cuba: The Havana International Fair 2015 and Panama (in Spanish)

• Peru/Korea: Pharmaceutical companies in Peru and Korea close agreements worth US$12.6 million (in Spanish)

• Peru/United States of America: Peru and the United States continue to make progress towards the implementation of their FTA (in Spanish)

• Peru/People’s Republic of China: Peru emphasizes its economic growth to Chinese investors (in Spanish)

• Peru/Thailand: Peruvian canned tuna industry at risk due to unfair competition from Thailand (in Spanish)

• CAFTA–DR: The Dominican Republic gets bad marks regarding trade with the US (in Spanish)

• Central American Integration System (SICA): First meeting of the Central American Integration System ends with no agreement on Cubans (in Spanish)

• Latin American Economic System (SELA): SELA commemorates the 40th anniversary of its articles of agreement (in Spanish)

• Reflections following the ASPA summit (in Spanish)

• Union of South American Nations (UNASUR): Statement issued by the Electoral Mission of the Union of South American Nations during the elections of the National Assembly held in the Republic of Venezuela

 

The IJI is an analytical compilation of regulatory texts, commentaries, and the monitoring of legal commitments and developments concerning the various integration processes taking place in Latin America and the Caribbean. For news and to learn more about the progress made on trade agreements and negotiations, visit IJI.