Abstract:
The Pacific Alliance was established as a project of deep integration between Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. The question raised in this paper is which of the Latin American regionalism approaches is better suited for the theoretical characterisation of the Pacific Alliance initiative? The concepts of open regionalism and strategic regionalism are explained for the characterisation of this initiative, and their limits are highlighted by empirical evidence. The paper concludes that regionalism concepts that give greater emphasis to commercial dynamics are not sufficient to understand the current operation and performance of the Pacific Alliance. As such, a complementary analytical approach is introduced responding to the long-term global dynamics.

Resumen:
La Alianza del Pacífico se instituyó como una propuesta de integración profunda entre Chile, Colombia, México y Perú. La pregunta que se plantea en este trabajo es ¿cuál de los enfoques del regionalismo en América Latina es el más idóneo para caracterizar teóricamente la iniciativa de la Alianza del Pacífico? En este sentido, se exponen los conceptos de regionalismo abierto y regionalismo estratégico para caracterizar esta iniciativa, y se resaltan sus límites a partir de evidencia empírica. El trabajo concluye que los conceptos de regionalismo que dan mayor énfasis a las dinámicas comerciales no son suficientes para comprender el funcionamiento y desempeño actual de la Alianza del Pacífico, por lo que se introduce un enfoque analítico complementario, el cual responde a dinámicas globales de largo plazo.

Authors: Daniel Rojas and José Miguel Terán
Spanish Title: La Alianza del Pacífico: Nueva Muestra del Regionalismo en América Latina
Full document: 2016, Rojas & Terán, La Alianza del Pacífico- Nueva Muestra del Regionalismo en América Latina

Abstract:
The Latin American Integrated Market agreement between Peru, Chile, Colombia and Mexico was signed within the framework under the Pacific Alliance, following the experiences of the European Union and integrated Asian and Middle Eastern markets. This agreement was aimed at diversifying markets and attracting global investors. We identify the impacts on returns and volatility at the main stock indexes for each of MILA member countries through the application of correlation and cointegration analyses, and using the impulse response function of vector autoregression (VAR).

Resumen:
El Acuerdo del Mercado Integrado Latinoamericano (MILA) suscrito entre Peru, Chile, Colombia y Mexico fue suscrito en el marco de la Alianza del Pacífico, siguiendo la experiencia de la Union Europea y los procesos de integración en Asia y Medio Este. Este acuerdo busca diversificar los mercados y atraer inversionistas del resto del mundo. Mediante análisis de correlación y cointegración, ademas de fiunciones impulso-respuesta de vectores autoregresivos (VAR), idenficamos los impactos en los retornos y en la volatilidad de los principales indices para cada uno de los paises miembros del MILA.
Palabras Clave: Integración financiera, cointegración, volatilidad.

Authors: Jaime Rojas-Mora and Julio César Chamorro-Futinico
Full document:2016, Rojas & Chamorro, Dinámica y Volatilidad en los Indices Bursátiles de los Países de la Alianza Pacífico

Abstract:
The establishment of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) is one of the priorities of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to enhance regional economic integration beyond the Bogor Goals, as reflected in the Beijing Roadmap for APEC in 2014. Multiple pathways could converge into the FTAAP, and these include the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). This paper discusses the potential of the Pacific Alliance (PA) to provide an additional pathway that also contributes to the FTAAP process and regional integration in Asia-Pacific.

The analysis suggests that the PA can be considered a comprehensive mechanism that is in line with the Bogor Goals, and its achievements in areas such as market access, services, investment, and new generation issues suggest that it is a WTO+ agreement. However, some issues would need to be negotiated among its members—such as intellectual property, labour, and environmental protection—for the PA to profile itself as a pathway equivalent to the TPP. The PA, however, is more comprehensive than the RCEP. The analysis also suggests that despite having only four members, the PA is a “living agreement” and is open to other APEC economies for membership and, therefore, has the potential to become a region-wide agreement.

Resumen:
No disponible

Authors: Camilo Pérez-Restrepo and Adriana Roldan-Pérez
Full document: 2016, Restrepo & Roldan, Is the Pacific Alliance a Potential Pathway to the FTAAP?

Abstract:
This article focuses on the period between 2010 and 2014 for its assessment. It attempts to develop its hypothesis by identifying diverse actions and activities that clearly evidence a change in the orientation of the Colombian foreign policies, such as the diversification of commercial partners, the active participation in multilateral institutions, and the country’s leading role in controversial issues occurring in the region. All of them are practices and methods for the perpetuation of political power, attempting to gain room for autonomy without directly confronting the United States.

It configures a kind of soft-law where a conceptual framework points out to autonomy in regards to international relations. There is a necessary reconstruction of the evolution of the Colombian foreign policy under the concepts of Réspice Polum and autonomy. Finally, and using a pertinent theoretical framework, the afore-mentioned period is discussed.

Resumen:
Este artículo de reflexión ciñó su ámbito temporal de estudio  entre el año 2010 y el año 2014. Se plantea desarrollar la hipótesis construida desde la identificación de las diversas actuaciones y actividades que señalan claramente un cambio en cuanto a la orientación de la política exterior colombiana. Estas se refieren a  acciones tales como la diversificación de socios comerciales, la participación activa en instancias multilaterales y el protagonismo en temas álgidos de la región, las cuales se configuran como prácticas y métodos de mantenimiento de poder político, tendientes a lograr márgenes de autonomía sin confrontar a los Estados Unidos.

Se configura una especie de soft-law o de derecho suave donde el marco conceptual refiere a la autonomía en materia de las relaciones internacionales. Representa una necesaria reconstrucción de la evolución de la política exterior colombiana bajo los conceptos de Réspice Polum y autonomía. Finalmente, y mediante el empleo de un marco teórico pertinente, se analizará el periodo descrito.

Authors: Carlos Hernán González Parias, Juan Camilo Mesa Bedoya and Gustavo Adolfo Londoño Ossa
Spanish Title: Política Exterior Colombiana 2010-2014 ¿Giro a la Autonomía?
Full document: 2016, González et al, Política Exterior Colombiana 2010-2014 ¿Giro a la Autonomía?

Abstract:
Free trade is an ancient aspiration that in essence was born with the economic science in the late eighteenth century, but that has only existed in the partial and limited form in the last third of the nineteenth century and until WW1. The birth of the GATT comes after the failure of the Havana Conference and obeys to the need of the world powers at the time to liberalise trade. It proposes the creation of free trade areas and customs unions as side mechanisms of global free trade.

There are more than 400 free trade agreements. Mexico has signed 11 of them with which it formalises, although it does not start its economic opening. Mexico also has taken part in two free trade transnational alliances (TPP and Pacific Alliance), which must be carefully analysed. There is speculation around the Transpacific and Transatlantic free trade agreements and their possible influence on the global economy.

Resumen:
El libre comercio es una antigua aspiración que, en rigor, nace con la ciencia económica a fines del siglo XVIII, pero que solo ha existido, en forma parcial y limitada, en el último tercio del siglo xix y hasta la I Guerra. El nacimiento del GATT después de la II Guerra como segunda opción ante la fracasada Carta de Comercio y Empleo obedece a la necesidad de las grandes potencias comerciales de la época de liberalizar el comercio. Este prevé la formación de áreas de libre comercio y de uniones aduaneras como mecanismos alternos al libre comercio de alcance universal, existen más de 400 de estos acuerdos. México es parte en 11 de ellos, con los que formaliza, no inicia, su apertura económica y de dos agrupaciones multilaterales (Alianza del Pacífico y Acuerdo Transpacífico), lo que debe ser analizado cuidadosamente. Al final se especula en torno a los acuerdos Transpacífico y Trasatlántico y su posible influencia en el funcionamiento de la economía mundial.

Author: Antonio Gazol Sánchez
Spanish Title: Libre comercio: tratados y nuevo orden. Un balance
Full document: 2016, Gazol, Libre Comercio- Tratados y Nuevo Orden- Un balance

Abstract:
This paper analyses the effect of innovation activities on the growth and performance of MSMEs in the countries of the Pacific Alliance (PA). An empirical study with a sample of 386 companies from Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru was conducted. The methodology of multiple linear regressions by Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) was applied to verify the relationships observed. The results show that innovation in products, processes and management has a positive impact on the growth of employment and sales, also on profits. These results are particularly significant in PA’s countries and can help entrepreneurs, governments and academia to promote actions that encourage business innovation and competitiveness.

Resumen: 
Este trabajo analiza el efecto de la actividad innovadora sobre el crecimiento y el rendimiento de las Mipyme de los países de la Alianza del Pacífico (AP). Para ello se realizó un estudio empírico con una muestra de 386 empresas de Chile, Colombia, México y Perú. Para verificar las relaciones planteadas se utilizan regresiones lineales múltiples por mínimos cuadrados ordinarios (MCO). Los resultados muestran que la innovación en productos, en procesos y engestión impacta positivamente el crecimiento del empleo y las ventas, y así mismo a las utilidades. Estos resultados son especialmente relevantes para los países de la AP y pueden ayudar a los empresarios, a los gobiernos y a la academia para impulsar acciones que favorezcan la innovación de las empresas y su competitividad.

Authors: Domingo García-Pérez de Lema, Edgar Julián Gálvez-Albarracín and Gonzalo Maldonado-Guzmán
Spanish Title: Efecto de la innovación en el crecimiento y el desempeño de las Mipymes de la Alianza del Pacífico. Un estudio empírico
Full document:2016, García et al, Efecto de la Innovación en el Crecimiento y el Desempeño de las Mipymes de la Alianza del Pacífico- Un Estudio Empírico

Abstract:
The entry into force of the Additional Protocol of the Framework Agreement of the Pacific Alliance in May 2016 marked an important step towards the regional integration efforts of its four members: Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. In addition to promoting trade and investment linkages among its members, a core objective of the Pacific Alliance —and what distinguishes it from other regional integration efforts in Latin America— is to serve as a platform for economic and commercial integration between Latin America and the Asia-Pacific. It is, therefore, of particular interest to evaluate current economic developments taking part in modern Latin America and their impact upon these integration efforts.

The data of bilateral flows of trade in goods at the product and sector level, together with the study of trade in services as well as foreign direct investment, reflect the strong links within the Pacific Alliance. It also reveals the potential to further increase its members’ participation in regional and global value chains.

The Additional Protocol will serve not only to eliminate tariffs for nearly 95% of intraregional imports but also to foster economic integration through cumulation of origin and trade facilitation.
The Pacific Alliance faces several challenges in the medium-term. First, it must successfully incorporate Costa Rica as a full member, the first accession since the Pacific Alliance was established.
Further, it must define how to fulfil one of its driving forces: to serve as a bridge between Asian and Latin American countries on both sides of the Pacific.

Authors: José Durán Lima and Daniel Cracau
Institutional author: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
Full document: 2016, Duran & Cracau, The Pacific Alliance and its economic impact on regional trade and investment

Abstract:
The interest of the countries to look for an international framework for the protection of Intellectual property rights started in the late XIX century. However, in the global trade field, an international standard was recently featured in 1994 with the emergence of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Agreement on Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Related to Trade (TRIPs Agreement). Later, the Intellectual property topics have been deepened under schemes of bilateral international trade agreements encouraged primarily by the United States of America, European Union and Japan, aiming to protect their industries.

Considering the importance of the Pacific Alliance and its intra-regional and global projection, emphasising the Asia Pacific region, it is a particular interest to be able to analyse the points that the bloc should bear in mind to create obligations on intellectual property matters that will attend to its interests. Although these obligations have not been established, it has gathered a working group entrusted to develop a working plan on intellectual property affairs.

For that reason, the current work will present the common ground of the intellectual property matters that the founding countries of the Pacific Alliance share. These works refer to some of the problems these countries are currently facing regarding this matter, as well as the points of interest that they could boost in the frame of the Pacific Alliance. We will also address the question of whether such issues should be discussed in the context of cooperation or if it is appropriate and necessary to articulate obligations at the international level, which allows them to address this problem and address those interests.
From our perspective, some conditions exist in the framework of the Pacific Alliance that can make favourable to adopt actions before the accession of new members to these integration processes in the following years.

Resumen:
No disponible

Authors: John Cusipuma and Gonzalo Ramírez
Full document: 2016, Cusipuma & Ramirez, Pacific Alliance- An Opportunity to Establish New Priorities on the Protection of Intellectual Property in Free Trade