The Political Economy of Hemispheric Integration: Responding to Globalization in the Americas (Studies of the Americas)

The 1990s and the early years of the 21st century have witnessed the emergence and proliferation of regional and bilateral trade agreements(RBTAs) between developed and developing countries in the Americas.These agreements typically liberalize trade in most goods and services, and they also coordinate measures on a broad range of economic policy areas beyond trade. The first and most prominent of these agreements is the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which the USA, Canada and Mexico signed in the early 1990s. In subsequent years, the USA has concluded agreements with a number of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The contributors to this book evaluate the economics and politics of this new pattern of North-South integration in the Americas. The book begins by considering the developmental implications of this new pattern of integration. Such agreements provide Latin American and Caribbean countries with significantly improved access to the US market, yet purchasing such preferential access via negotiation of RBTAs agreements with the US obliges countries to adopt US-style practices in areas such as the management of inward foreign investment and intellectual property. The first half of the volume addresses these issues, focusing on the challenges derived from new patterns of foreign investment, the rise of China as an exporting power, the emergence of a new regime for investment protection, and the multiplicity of intrusive forms of economic governance embodied in regional and global trade regimes. The second half of the book focuses on both the proliferation of RBTAs, and, critically, the limits to the spread of such agreements. The authors consider the interests in integration and strategies for negotiating RBTAs from the perspective of a variety of actors, deploying a range of analytic approaches. The chapters assess the capacities of the US to fulfil ambitions for integration, the strategy of Canada to both maintain close relations with the US and counterbalance its neighbor's preponderant influence throughout the region, the response of smaller countries in Central America and the Caribbean, reactions toward integration of the larger South American countries in Mercosur, and the broader question of how developing countries form coalitions and design collective bargaining strategies to participate in international trade politics. The Contributors To This Book Evaluate The Economics And Politics Of This New Pattern Of North-south Integration In The Americas. The Book Begins By Considering The Developmental Implications Of This New Pattern Of Integration. Such Agreements Provide Latin American And Caribbean Countries With Significantly Improved Access To The Us Market, Yet Purchasing Such Preferential Access Via Negotiation Of Rbtas Agreements With The Us Obliges Countries To Adopt Us-style Practices In Areas Such As The Management Of Inward Foreign Investment And Intellectual Property. The First Half Of The Volume Addresses These Issues, Focusing On The Challenges Derived From New Patterns Of Foreign Investment, The Rise Of China As An Exporting Power, The Emergence Of A New Regime For Investment Protection, And The Multiplicity Of Intrusive Forms Of Economic Governance Embodied In Regional And Global Trade Regimes. The Second Half Of The Book Focuses On Both The Proliferation Of Rbtas, And, Critically, The Limits To The Spread Of Such Agreements. The Authors Consider The Interests In Integration And Strategies For Negotiating Rbtas From The Perspective Of A Variety Of Actors, Deploying A Range Of Analytic Approaches. The Chapters Assess The Capacities Of The Us To Fulfil Ambitions For Integration, The Strategy Of Canada To Both Maintain Close Relations With The Us And Counterbalance Its Neighbor's Preponderant Influence Throughout The Region, The Response Of Smaller Countries In Central America And The Caribbean, Reactions Toward Integration Of The Larger South American Countries In Mercosur, And The Broader Question Of How Developing Countries Form Coalitions And Design Collective Bargaining Strategies To Participate In International Trade Politics.--publisher's Description. Introduction: Globalization, Integration, And The Political Economy Of Development In The Americas / Diego Sanchez-ancochea & Kenneth C. Shadlen --- Part I: The Global Environment. The Transnationalization Of Developing America: Trends, Challenges, And (missed) Opportunities /michael Mortimore -- What Does China's Integration To The Global Economy Mean For Latin America?: The Mexican Experience / Enrique Dussel Peters -- Investment Treaty Arbitration And The Policy Implications For Capital-importing Countries /gus Van Harten -- Policy Space For A Capability-centered Development Strategy For Latin America / Luis Abugattas & Eva Paus --- Part Ii: The Political Economy Of Hemispheric Integration. The Politics Of Trade And The Limits To U.s. Power In The Americas / Nicola Phillips -- State And Society: The Politics Of Dr-cafta In Costa Rica, The Dominican Republic, And El Salvador /diego Sanchez-ancochea -- Ftaa Trade Negotiations: A View Of The Brazilian Co-chairmanship / Adhemar Bahadian & Mauricio Carvalho Lyrio -- Canada And The Politics Of Regional Economic Integration In The Americas / Laura Macdonald -- Trade Negotiations And Development Politics: Caving In Or Edging Up? /diana Tussie. Edited By Diego Sánchez-ancochea And Kenneth C. Shadlen. Papers Presented At A Conference Held In London On June 1-2, 2006. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xv Introduction: Globalization, Integration, and Economic Development in the Americas....Pages 1-23 Front Matter....Pages 25-25 The Transnationalization of Developing America: Trends, Challenges, and (Missed) Opportunities....Pages 27-55 What Does China’s Integration to the Global Economy Mean for Latin America? The Mexican Experience....Pages 57-81 Investment Treaty Arbitration and Its Policy Implications for Capital-Importing States....Pages 83-111 Policy Space for a Capability-Centered Development Strategy for Latin America....Pages 113-143 Front Matter....Pages 145-145 The Politics of Trade and the Limits to U.S. Power in the Americas....Pages 147-169 State and Society: The Political Economy of DR-CAFTA in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and El Salvador....Pages 171-200 FTAA Trade Negotiations: A View of the Brazilian Co-chairmanship....Pages 201-218 Canada and the Politics of Regional Economic Integration in the Americas....Pages 219-238 Trade Negotiations and Development Politics: Caving In or Edging Up?....Pages 239-263 Back Matter....Pages 265-283 In the wake of the North American Free Trade Agreement, signed between Canada, Mexico, and the United States, a number of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have negotiated similar trade agreements with the US. This volume analyzes the economics and politics of this new pattern of integration. The authors (from Europe, Latin America, the US, and Canada) analyze how closer economic integration in the form of "North-South" trade agreements affects the prospects for economic and social development in Latin America. The book analyzes the politics of these agreements, showing which actors are most involved in the negotiations. Benefiting from a truly Pan-American perspective, these essays evaluate the economics and politics of the new patterns of North-South integration in the particular context of the Americas, questioning if regional and bilateral trade agreements like NAFTA, CAFTA or the FTAA are appropriate mechanisms to promote economic development.