Canning Papers | Whither trade blocs in Latin America?

Whither trade blocs in Latin America?: Canning Papers

31st Mar 2014

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.

Executive Summary

Amidst the continued controversy, the article finds that there are now two main schools of thought about the future of trading blocs. One sees them as unfinished business; the other regards them as largely irrelevant to Latin American development. Both suggest changes in policy emphasis.

The first suggests that they need to be complemented with wider efforts to facilitate integration, in line with the idea of ‘second-stage reforms’.

More recent canning papers

What does the US election mean for Latin America?

The 5 November United States presidential election is set to be a tight race, with the vote in a small number of swing states likely to be decisive. In its latest Canning Paper, Canning House considers the potential impact of either leading candidate's victory on Latin America, and how the region sees the contest for the White House.

Opportunities for an enhanced UK-Latin America relationship

The election of a new Labour Party government in July 2024 opens up possibilities for reviewing and refreshing diplomatic and trade relations between the UK and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. In our latest Canning Paper, Canning House sets out what some of those opportunities may be.