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Before our eyes, we could be setting up a process of very important implications, decisive for our future, without noticing it.
It is the intention of the two dominant trading blocs of the region (Pacific Alliance and Mercosur), to seek greater integration and create, in the future, a vast area of free trade in the region (after the FTAA failed in 2005), which would imply the free movement of goods, services, capital and people between member countries.
This was announced at the XIII Summit of the Alliance, which was held from July 21 to 24. In this regard, it should be recalled that the Pacific Alliance was created in 2011 and has gradually consolidated as the most dynamic and open trading bloc in the region, to which 52 countries have been integrated as Observers and four nations (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore) that are negotiating to be part of a new system of badociated states. In total, the Alliance is the eighth largest economy in the world, absorbs 41% of all investment coming into the region and is the fifth largest recipient of direct foreign investment globally. It is a market of 220 million people and accounts for 36% of Latin America's GDP and 57% of the region's total trade, with 92% of products traded between member countries.
an international context marked by protectionism, exclusion and unilateralism based solely on power, the intention to revive Latin American integration and boost interregional multilateralism with Mercosur, with the Asia-Pacific, could be the best strategic axis
A possible integration of the two blocks would allow to concentrate 90% of the region's GDP and foreign direct investment flows and would represent a market of more 500 million consumers. Such integration would help diversify the region's production and export structure and create more effective economies of scale to take advantage of the explosive growth of the middle clbades in Asia.
The road to this horizon will still be difficult. As the Uruguayan President, Tabaré Vázquez, pointed out at the Summit: "These are not identical blocks but they are not exclusive". Both blocks will have much to do and conclude in the coming years, before considering taking decisive action in the proposed direction. But the political intention, for the moment, is given, as indicated by the symbolic importance of this first meeting of the presidents of the two blocs, which had never occurred before .
However, we must not forget that everything is intention, for the moment. And everything can change tomorrow. In this regard, it should be noted that two of the four Mercosur Presidents have disappeared and that of the six Summit participants, three are about to leave their positions in the coming months. Everything will depend on the policies that decide to promote the presidents who will take office soon, especially in Mexico and Brazil. In the particular case of Mexico, the refusal of Andrés Manuel López Obrador to attend the Summit, although he has confirmed his presence, raises serious doubts about his real commitment to free trade. exchange and the Alliance, even if all is perhaps due to the possible pressure of its political base not to meet Michel Temer, the Brazilian president
The eventual creation, in the future, of A large free trade zone in Latin America would be a great event, if it materializes, that would entail a continuous improvement of the productive and economic capabilities of our countries and their societies. In this respect, it should be noted that all processes to improve the productivity and well-being of the world have been generated in times of free competition and trade. Never in the era of protectionism, oriented only to guarantee the demand to those who are not competitive. In Latin America, we need to improve trade and competition. And the opportunity is on the horizon.
Finally, let's make amends that this is possible now, largely thanks to the collapse of the populist left in the region. Governments like Correa in Ecuador, Lula and Dilma in Brazil, Chávez and Maduro in Venezuela, and Evo in Bolivia were active enemies of free trade and established an ideological agenda in Mercosur and other organizations. His political defeat, his international discredit and / or his economic debacle opened this opportunity, as evidenced by the current critical situation of Unasur (the Union of South American Nations, created by Chavez and Lula), torn between the defection of its members, the vacancy of its governing body and the painful expulsion of its seat. Today, the possibility of Latin American integration depends on the acceptance of diversity and economic rationality, and not on the ideological standardization or politicization of relations.
Hopefully we will take advantage of this stalemate to move forward; we do not know how long it can last. One day the populist left will come back because people often forget the past and go on to impulse the fashion scandal, because she wants news, even if she has to get degraded, because tomorrow she can say: Mature better than the disappointment of what we have. There is the case of Mexico: the Mexicans forget our painful past with the old PRI and by electing López Obrador, we decided freely and gently to give a new opportunity to the archaic practices, logic and culture of this party, under a new name. 19659012]
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