Regional Markets in Latin America

Abstract

Never in America … has there been a matter requiring more good judgment or more vigilance, or demanding a clearer and more thorough examination.” José Martí's observation on the first effort by the United States to unite both Americas at the Pan-American Congress in 1889 is relevant again today. Efforts to unite the two hemispheres are underway with the proposal to create a Free Trade Area of the Americas and the flurry of preliminary bilateral and regional trade agreements that the Bush Administration has been pushing in Latin America. It appears that Latin American leaders have taken the quote to heart—most trade negotiations now focus on forming a united regional front. The aim of “regionalization” is to unite countries in Latin America into small groups prior to their integration into a larger, hemisphere-wide trade bloc.Luisa Angrisani was educated at Fordham University, where she completed a master's degree in international political economy and development, specializing in Latin America. She joined the Economist Intelligence Unit and is presently a regional editor, assessing political, economic, and financial conditions in Latin America (luisaangrisani@eiu.com). She has also written several articles, most recently for the National Interest.