Abstract:
Although the PA has stressed that it is more than just another FTA, it has received most of its international attention and support for its economic achievements and trade focus on the Asia-Pacific region. However, the PA has also advanced in other niches of cooperation, such as academic exchange, technology and the integration of stock markets. It still needs to be seen whether the existing cooperation will spill over into other issue areas and whether the PA countries will cooperate and define common positions in international forums.
As salient the trade agenda of the PA may be, one cannot ignore the political and strategic side effects of the project.

Authors: Detlef Nolte, Leslie Wehner

Full document: 2013, Nolte & Wehner, The Pacific Alliance Casts Its Cloud over Latin America

Abstract:
The Pacific Alliance is an original integration mechanism adjusted to specific historical peculiarities of the region and of the founding states. It also shares some features with certain regionalism indications, especially with the open regionalism that characterized the 90s of the XX century. For this reason, The Pacific Alliance is presented as a renewed and updated regionalism, which is considered of deep integration. Economic internationalisation through the incorporation to new markets is one of the elements shared by the four founding states: Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile. These countries control more than half of the Latin American foreign trade. Nevertheless, by carefully analyzing this matter, it is possible to observe that countries such as Peru and Colombia are left behind with respect to Mexico and Chile, even when compared to other countries of the region. Commercial agreements –especially The Pacific Alliance– are presented as an important opportunity for the Colombian strategy to reach economic internationalization, but it is important to overcome the exporting isolation and dependence of the country in order to maximize its potential benefits. It was evidenced that Colombia is commercially left behind when compared to the other members of the Alliance, especially Mexico and Chile.

Resumen:
La Alianza del Pacífico se presenta como un mecanismo de integración regional novedoso, ajustado a ciertas particularidades históricas de la región y de los Estados fundadores. Pero también, como proceso de integración comparte características con ciertas formas del regionalismo, especialmente con el regionalismo abierto característico de los años 90 del siglo XX, por lo cual, la Alianza del Pacífico se presenta como un nuevo regionalismo renovado, actualizado y autodenominado de integración profunda. La internacionalización económica por medio de inserción a nuevos mercados, es uno de los elementos que comparten los cuatro Estados fundadores: México, Colombia, Perú y Chile. En su conjunto estos países acaparan más de la mitad del comercio exterior latinoamericano.
No obstante, analizando en detalle se observa que países como Perú y especialmente Colombia, se encuentran un poco rezagados en dicha materia con respecto a sus similares de México y Chile, incluso si se mira a otros países de la región. Los acuerdos comerciales y en especial la Alianza del Pacífico se presenta como una importante oportunidad en la estrategia colombiana de internacionalización económica, pero se debe superar el aun aislamiento y dependencia mono exportadora del país, con el fin de maximizar los beneficios potenciales que estos presentan, ya que se evidencia un importante rezago de Colombia en términos comerciales con respecto a los demás miembros de la alianza, especialmente frente a México y Chile.

Authors: Lisbeth Katherine Duarte Herrera, Carlos Hernán González Parías, Diego Alejandro Montoya Uribe
Spanish Title: Colombia de cara al nuevo regionalismo renovado: la Alianza del Pacífico
Full document:2014, Duarte et al, Colombia de Cara al Nuevo Regionalismo Renovado- la Alianza del Pacífico

Abstract:
The current state of the South American agenda –particularly the Mercosur– regarding the signing of trade agreements, has become one of the issues discussed mostly within the bloc.

This debate is held with varying success for the claim of the smallest members of Mercosur (Uruguay and Paraguay), but more recently and more drastically, also by the Brazilian private sector. There are at least two reasons that lead to the increasing relevance of the issue at hand for the internal agenda of South American countries.

On the one hand, changes internationally in recent years according to trade liberalisation of countries, international trade patterns and new forms of production. Furthermore, the recent creation of the Pacific Alliance, which by its nature and members positioned itself as a last generation agreement, not set to classic integration models usually reviewed by the classical theory.

Resumen:
El estado actual de la agenda sudamericana –en particular del Mercosur– en lo que refiere a la suscripción de acuerdos comerciales, se ha transformado en uno de los asuntos mayormente debatidos al interior del bloque. Dicho debate es sostenido con mayor o menor éxito por el reclamo de los miembros más pequeños del Mercosur (Uruguay y Paraguay), pero más recientemente, aunque de forma cada vez más firme, también por el sector privado brasileño.

Continue reading

Abstract:
This article explores the concept of ‘regulatory convergence’ in the context of the evolving literature on legal convergence and divergence. Such a concept has emerged as an overarching horizontal discipline in the latest generation of preferential trade agreements and aims to reduce unnecessary regulatory incompatibilities between countries in order to facilitate cross-border trade and investment.

Differing approaches to regulatory convergence found in recently concluded PTAs, or currently under negotiation, are examined. The article has a  focus on the ‘regulatory cooperation’ approach embedded in CETA, the path of ‘regulatory improvement’ taken by members of the Pacific Alliance, and the ‘regulatory coherence’ track included in the TPP. We also refer to the TTIP negotiations conducted between the EU and the US.

The article offers a broad understanding of the different ways in which regulatory convergence is implemented across PTAs, and the legal complexities resulting from the ambiguity of the concept. It further describes the scope and effects of the different mechanisms used to achieve regulatory convergence, on both substantive and procedural matters.

Resumen:
No disponible

Authors: Rodrigo Polanco Lazo and Pierre Sauvé
Journal reference: World Trade Review, 2017
Full document: not available

Abstract:
The Pacific Alliance, launched in 2011, has focused its energies upon advancing trade and integration while maintaining that the association is strictly apolitical—a first in Latin America. This note argues that while the Pacific Alliance will bring success to its member countries, this same success will divide Latin American nations.

The division will in turn cause decreased trade amongst the nations, and the region will lose the opportunity to engage in complementary growth. In order to mitigate these adverse effects, the Pacific Alliance should make efforts to maintain enduring and meaningful relations with the rest of Latin America. On the eve of its possible expansion, it is essential, however, that the Pacific Alliance maintain its focus on trade liberalisation and not become another refuge for politically like-minded countries.

Part II explains the different levels of integration offered by trade agreements and provides a brief history of regionalism in South America. To predict the future of the Pacific Alliance, the structure must be evaluated, and the past must be contextualised.

Part III presents the first argument of the paper, mainly that the Pacific Alliance will bring success to its member nations. The three factors required for a successful regional trade agreement are common national characteristics, policies that foster long-run economic growth, and the establishment of both a supranational entity and an effective dispute resolution system. Continue reading

Abstract:
The need for Latin American countries to address the economic and trade challenges through coordinated continental strategies with stronger economies and in particular towards emerging   Asia Pacific led to the creation in 2007 of the Pacific Arch Initiative. This project was stalled by the lack of progress in the integration process and differences in trade policy among its members, so in response to this arise the Pacific Alliance in 2011, between Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. The Alliance pragmatism has led to the subscription of some commitments and the implementation of various cooperation programs between member countries, without the need to incorporate them into a single package. Since the Uruguay Round the aspects related to services have been fundamental in trade negotiations. Recently, trade in services has appeared increasingly as an alternative way for developing countries to achieve economic growth and development. Not only in relation to the possibility to add value to its production and exports baskets, but also as an strategy of improving regional production chains which is one of the main objectives of the Pacific Alliance. Although the four members could be classified as middle-income countries, they still have deficit in their highly concentrated export basket.

The main purpose of this article is to answer two questions: Whether the Pacific Alliance countries had given a better treatment on services liberalization to its developed countries partners (EU and US) than among them? How could the Pacific Alliance members’ services liberalization commitments at WTO and FTA converge to a single agreement? This article reviews the trade in services aspects of the Pacific Alliance members. First, we review the existing commitments on services liberalization of the Pacific Alliance members in the World Trade Organization (GATS). Second, studying the commitments o member´s Free Trade Agreements, particularly with the US and EU comparing them with those among them. Finally, an agenda on services liberalization for the Pacific Alliance is proposed.

Resumen:
No disponible

Authors: Dorotea López, Felipe Muñoz and Angélica Corvalán
Full document: 2015, Lopez et al, Services Dimension in the Pacific Alliance

Abstract:
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the links between the commitments made under the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) and its influence on the deepening of Peruvian relations within the framework of the Pacific Alliance (PA). Given the fact that both agreements contain similar commitments on trade in goods and services, linking the relationship between them deserves particular attention, since they constitute, from the authors’ perspective, the starting point for the generation of new bilateral and multilateral agreements.

Resumen:
Este ensayo tiene por objeto analizar la vinculación entre los compromisos asumidos en el marco del Acuerdo de Asociación Transpacífico (TPP) y su influencia en la profundización de las relaciones peruanas en el marco de la Alianza del Pacífico (AP). Efectivamente, ambos acuerdos contienen compromisos similares en materia de comercio de bienes y servicios, por lo que vincular la relación entre ambos acuerdos merece especial atención en la medida en constituyen, desde la perspectiva de las autoras, punto de partida para la generación de nuevos acuerdos comerciales bilaterales, así como multilaterales.

Authors: María Cecilia Pérez Aponte and Elba Roo Superlano
Spanish Title: La Alianza del Pacífico: Una Estrategia efectiva para Fortalecer la Relación Comercial con Asia Pacífico
Full document: 2017, Perez & Roo, La Alianza del Pacífico- una estrategia efectiva para fortalecer la relación comercial con Asia-Pacífico

Abstract:
Trade and investment have been the main drivers of economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and in the member countries of the Pacific Alliance (Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru) in particular, which are the focus of this study. The results of the trade policy reforms made by these four countries are impressive. Exports have increased considerably and a path toward diversification has been forged. Liberalization and foreign investment facilitation efforts also posted outstanding results. To better understand the member countries of the Pacific Alliance, it is necessary to examine their trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) openness, which contributed to average year-on-year growth of 6.3% in gross domestic product (GDP) over the last two-plus decades (1990-2013) compared to the rest of LAC, which posted an average of 5.3%. These aspects are analyzed in Section I.

Differentiating between the FTAs with regard to scope and depth depends, among other factors, on the inclusion of trade related disciplines. A comparative overview of the agreements is undertaken in Section II.

Trade liberalization is expanding between Korea and the Pacific Alliance countries. Progress has been facilitated by Chile´s FTA, which has been in place for the past decade, and by Peru’s FTA, which went into effect in 2011. Similar results can be expected when the Colombia-Korea FTA, signed in 2013, goes into effect. However, after a period of tariff liberalization, it is clear that future gains in bilateral relations are likely to be found in non-tariff-related areas. This is the domain that requires work. Aspects related to non-tariff barriers are covered in the comparative analysis of FTAs signed with Korea in Section II and discussed in the segment on Chile’s FTA with Korea.

Resumen:
No disponible

Editor: Rosario Santa Gadea
Full document: 2015, Santa Gadea, Analysis of Experiences in Trade and Investment between LAC and Korea- The Case of Member Countries of the Pacific Alliance