Legal Instruments of Integration (IJI) Observatory

This month’s trends

During this period, the regional trade policy panorama was marked by extraregional events such as the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Nairobi and the Paris Agreements on climate change, which took place in December 2015. Notable events at the regional level include the 49th Summit of Heads of State of MERCOSUR in December 2015, and the recent 4th CELAC Summit, held at the end of January 2016. Although there was less movement than during the previous period, progress was made on existing agreements, notably Chile’s, Colombia’s, Panama’s, and Peru’s regional agreements with partners within and outside of the region; and in the main integration blocs, such as ALADI, CAN, MERCOSUR, SICA, SELA, and UNASUR. Nonetheless, there were advances in negotiation processes that are just beginning and those which are at an advanced stage.

 

360º Panorama

Over the course of the month, headway was made on 21 existing agreements and 11 trade negotiations (one new, seven advanced, and three concluded).

 

New Negotiation

• Ecuador and South Korea begin negotiations for a trade agreement (in Spanish)

 

Advanced Negotiations

• MERCOSUR/EU MERCOSUR members press for agreement with European Union (in Spanish)

• TPP: Prior to the official signing on February 4, 2016, in Auckland, New Zealand publishes final version of Trans-Pacific Partnership (in Spanish)

• Pacific Alliance: Pacific Alliance presidents to meet in Quito at 4th CELAC Summit (in Spanish)

• Central America/South Korea:  “Coffee and fruit stand out in FTA with South Korea” (in Spanish)

• CELAC finalizes details for talks on peace, poverty, and development at the 4th CELAC Summit (in Spanish)

• Peru/Turkey Metalworking and textile sectors are sensitive in FTA with Turkey (in Spanish)

• Panama/Israel: Positive international negotiations during 2015 (in Spanish)

 

Concluded Negotiations

• Negotiations between Colombia and Panama remain in deadlock (in Spanish)

• Five ratifications still needed before Ecuador/European Union agreement is signed (in Spanish)

 

Selected news on trade agreements currently in force

• ACS: Cuba to take on pro-tempore presidency of the Association of Caribbean States (in Spanish)

• Central America/European Union: Nicaragua has yet to take advantage of association agreement meat quota (in Spanish)

• Chile/India: Chile and India make progress on deepening of trade agreement (in Spanish)

• Chile to seek to deepen trade agreement with European Union (in Spanish)

• Colombia/Venezuela: Venezuela to reopen border with Colombia (in Spanish) and Trade agreement between Colombia and Venezuela subject to presidential sanction (in Spanish)

• Andean Community (CAN): Walker San Miguel elected Secretary General of the Andean Community (in Spanish) and European Union earmarks over €9 million to implement new development projects on borders of Andean subregion (in Spanish)

• Amazonian Cooperation: Amazon countries adopt declaration for 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) (in Spanish)

• The Plata Basin: Following repeal of Resolution 1108, negotiations with Uruguay begin (in Spanish)

• MERCOSUR: MERCOSUR countries call for “continental integration” at the 49th Summit of Heads of State (in Spanish)

• Central American Integration System (SICA): Costa Rica leaves SICA political authority (in Spanish) and SICA summit concludes with no solution for Cuban migrants (in Spanish)

• SELA: Regulatory frameworks in subregional integration mechanisms in Latin America and the Caribbean: harmonization and convergence (in Spanish)

• COSIPLAN: Relevant agencies design road integration in South America (in Spanish)

• UNASUR hopes for a “peaceful solution” between Venezuela’s National Assembly and the Supreme Court of Justice (in Spanish)

 

The IJI is an analytical compilation of regulatory texts, commentaries, and 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.