MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Alliance of the Pacific emerges as a potent challenge for Mercosur and Brazil
The leading countries of Latin America’s Pacific Rim with the exception of Ecuador and a few Central American countries, agreed to conform the Alliance of the Pacific an ambitious integration project which has good relations with Washington and is targeted to accompany the growing influence of the Asia-Pacific basin. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesThis Alianza del Pacifico is an exciting new trade organization, and the Mercopress story hits all the hot buttons to explain why. Great that Perú is joining - Humala is turning out to be doing a good job as president. Also great that our Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird was in Chile for the AP initiation: http://www.rcinet.ca/espagnol/noticias/16_03_40_2012-06-07-canada-asiste-a-la-creacion-de-la-alianza-del-pacifico/
Jun 08th, 2012 - 03:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0If this goes ahead it will be good news. Mercosur needs competition as it is stagnating, and if all goes well this new alliance can become the leading economic block of countries in Central and South America.
Jun 08th, 2012 - 10:27 am - Link - Report abuse 0It is good news for the countries signing up to this new alliance, but I don’t see how this is bad for Mercosur. It is not a zero sum game.
Jun 08th, 2012 - 02:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Peru might turn out to be a loose cannon in this alliance. All is well right now but many Peruvians are deeply anti-Chilean and extremely regionalist – it will take a strong hand to keep them on course.
Brazil should ditch Mercosur, they are big enough to go it alone and should be focusing on relations with other major trading blocks. Who in their right mind would want Chavez, CFK and Correa as their socios!
It is interesting that what this article suggests is that the main stumbling block for Latin America is.............argieland!
Jun 08th, 2012 - 02:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 03 Condorito (#)
Jun 08th, 2012 - 03:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Jun 08th, 2012 - 02:37 pm
I'm sure you know your neighbours better than I do, but I must say that I see Peru looking rather good under Humala, I was a bit sceptical after the “Montrose” episode, but the simple fact of going into this Alliance shows a maturity that certainly gives hope.
The “anti-neighbour” thing in SA is the main stumbling block for regional integration, witness the practical demise of Mercosur, but I have a feeling that this Alliance will be a success, because it is based on OPEN economies.
Simon,
Jun 08th, 2012 - 03:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I think in all probability that this alliance will be a success. The most progressive countries in Latam getting together can only be good.
I agree that Peru is looking good and that it has come a long way from the days of the sendero luminoso. My concern about Peru is the complexity of the political landscape which is mined with ethnic and regional issues. In my books it is still an unstable country. I hope that the benefits of the recent progress can filter down fast enough for most to see that they are on the right track.
Peru used to have a tourist slogan: “Peru, possibly the richest country in the world”. I really like that. With 5000 years of civilization it has something that the rest of SAmerica is devoid of.
I would rather be in an alliance with Peru than one that has Argentina. As the article point out, Mercosur has been screwed by Argentina's eratic policies. Someone should have told CFKC that you do not shit on your own doorstep.
Jun 08th, 2012 - 07:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Humala had to move to centrist policies and distance himself from Chavez to get elected and that has to be good for Peru in the future. JMO
Stop all funding to this corrupt country called Argentina bring down this corrupt country and all who govern Argentina.
Jun 08th, 2012 - 08:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0www.StopFundingArgentina.org
Anyone reading this outside of Argentina sign THE FORM NOW.
What a shame-the Lat Ams can't even integrate with themselves. It is foolish of the free traders in the blog to think the Alliance partners can fully integrate with the rest of the world. I agree w/ Elaine re: Argentina--the Kirchners; husband and wife are a disaster. Nestor was a competley destructive human being-good riddens.
Jun 09th, 2012 - 04:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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