MERCOSUR has become less operational, despite government claims that it will continue to play a leading role in the international insertion strategies of its member countries for some years. The current crisis is clearly far from over. It is important to note that the enormous difficulties that...

In the first half of 1998, the impact of the Asian crisis on the level of economic activity in the four MERCOSUR countries was, in addition to being reasonably differentiated, much less severe than had been forecast at the end of 1997. However, the sub-regional gross domestic product (GDP),...

In the first half of 1997, MERCOSUR's macroeconomic situation was marked by two trends: first, improved performance in terms of output and inflation rates, in a context of relative fiscal fragility and external vulnerability; and second, convergence in the performance of the different countries,...

The second half of 1998 was a turning point in the macroeconomic evolution of the MERCOSUR countries, and will very probably mark the beginning of a new phase in relations between them. Despite some difficulties and setbacks, the initial stage ¿ from the signing of the Treaty of Asunción in...

In the context of a growing world economy, a steady demand for raw materials and a wealth of liquidity, the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR: Mercado Común del Sur) continues to expand. The macroeconomic indicators reveal a more solid bloc than last year, and growth is combined with lower...

The Central American Common Market (CACM) comprises Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, the signatories of the General Treaty on Economic Integration in 1960. The basic pattern of economic integration in Central America was based on a free trade area, with a common...

Although interregional cooperation in trade and investment between Latin America and Asia-Pacific has been on the agendas of countries in both regions for some time, initiatives have been few, with meager results. The lack of tangible results is related to the economic asymmetries between the...

The Andean countries have made significant progress in their external agenda, above all because of the achievements with their main economic and political counterparts. Andean negotiations contributed to having the United States adopt the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act, renewing...