Overview of regional trade negotiations and agreements. The IJI is an analytically oriented compilation of regulatory texts, commentaries, and follow-up on 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.
Overview of regional trade negotiations and agreements. The IJI is an analytically oriented compilation of regulatory texts, commentaries, and follow-up on 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.
This month’s trends
In August and September 2016, the regional trade policy agenda was shaped by activities around trade negotiations both within and outside the region. The most notable example of this is Uruguay, which has been working towards deepening existing bilateral agreements while negotiating a next-generation bilateral trade agreement with Chile. There was also a marked contrast between the dynamism and strong leadership evident within the Pacific Alliance integration scheme and the deadlock that the MERCOSUR is currently experiencing.
360º Panorama
Over the course of the month, progress was made on 13 existing agreements and 10 trade negotiations.
Advanced Negotiations
- Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): Congressional debates over the TPP heat up (link in Spanish)
- El Salvador–Bolivia: El Salvador and Bolivia make headway on a partial scope agreement (link in Spanish)
- Central America–South Korea: Central America holds fourth round of FTA talks with South Korea in Managua (link in Spanish)
- Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC): DR president takes part in meeting at UN to discuss the next CELAC presidency (link in Spanish)
- Ecuador–El Salvador: El Salvador–Ecuador FTA Negotiations Finalized
- Ecuador–European Union: EU waives tariff on foreign tuna fish processed in Ecuador (link in Spanish)
- MERCOSUR–European Union: The MERCOSUR and the EU to resume negotiations in October (link in Spanish)
- Panama–Israel: Panama and Israel discuss the potential for strengthening trade relations (link in Spanish)
- Peru–Turkey: Peru and Turkey negotiate a paragraph on defense in their free trade agreement (link in Spanish)
Selected news on trade agreements currently in force
- Pacific Alliance: The Pacific Alliance has almost 50 free trade agreements currently in force (link in Spanish)
- Latin American Integration Association (ALADI): Argentina and Brazil to use the ALADI digital certificate of origin in bilateral trade (link in Spanish)
- Chile–Central America: Chile is exploring economic opportunities in Costa Rica and Nicaragua (link in Spanish)
- Colombia–Venezuela: Colombia and Venezuela agree on a special identity cards to reopen the border (in Spanish)
- Caribbean Community (CARICOM): Reform Process in CARICOM
- United States of America–Colombia: Colombia’s FTA with the United States shows a negative balance (link in Spanish)
- Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR): MERCOSUR puts forward a solution to its presidency problem (link in Spanish), Paraguay asks for protocols of accession to be reviewed (link in Spanish)
- MERCOSUR–Bolivia Venezuela adds a MERCOSUR common external tariff (link in Spanish), Paraguay signs Bolivia’s protocol of accession to the MERCOSUR (link in Spanish)
- Mexico–European Free Trade Association (EFTA): Mexico to host second business round to update the Mexico–European Free Trade Association agreement (link in Spanish)
- Mexico–Uruguay: Uruguay begins negotiations to expand trade agreements with Mexico (link in Spanish)
- Panama–Chile: Chile and Panama seek to strengthen the implementation of their free trade agreement (link in Spanish)
- Peru–People’s Republic of China: A future shared with China (link in Spanish)
- Dominican Republic, Central America–United States of America (CAFTA–DR): DR creates committee to evaluate the impact of CAFTA–DR on agricultural products (link in Spanish).
