Canning Papers

Following last month’s Canning Paper, which described the rivalry and com- parative performance of Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance, this report takes a broader look at the experience of trade blocs in Latin America over the past two decades. It notes that relative to the claims for free trade the results of the process of economic integration have been disappointing, giving rise to intense dispute and rival initiatives.

This report compares and contrasts two Latin American trade blocs: the long-standing Mercosur alliance (the Southern Common Market formed by Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay in 1994, with Venezuela becoming a full member in 2012) and the more recently created Pacific Alliance (formed by Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru in June 2012).

Seven countries will hold presidential and/or general elections in Latin America in 2014: Costa Rica (general), El Salvador (presidential), Colombia (general), Panama (general), Bolivia (general), Brazil (gen- eral) and Uruguay (general).