Strategic regionalism and the remaking of the triangular relation between the USA, the European Union and Latin America

Abstract

This paper analyzes the extent to which the United States’ (US) proposal of establishing a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) has influenced the design of the new European Union (EU) policy towards Latin America. The main argument is that FTAA is a modality of strategic regionalism affecting EU interests in Latin America in sectors such as commerce and investments. Similarly, FTAA can be used by the US to regulate, in a regional framework and according with its interests, sectors such as intellectual property, about which there is still no multilateral regulation. The EU has also promoted a strategic regionalism to defend its interests in Latin America's economic affairs. The reasons for the emerging of this strategic policy and its evolution in the last few years are also accounted for.