Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)

DATE IN EFFECT: Proposed in 1990 and reintroduced in 1994 (Summit of the Americas); to go into effect in 2005

MEMBERS: All countries in the Americas (U.S. commitment remains uncertain)

OBJECTIVES: Hemispheric free-trade zone to be based upon both NAFTA and MERCOSUR. Special focus will be placed on human rights, poverty, education, health care, drug trafficking, terrorism, infrastructure, energy, tourism, women's studies, biodiversity and pollution.

Andean Pact

DATE IN EFFECT: Established in 1969

MEMBERS: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru (Observer status)

OBJECTIVES: Formation of a common market among Andean states. Tariff rates vary depending on industrial sectors and country status. The principle objective of the Andean group is to promote both the individual development of each members economy as well as the social integration of the region's communities (Trujillo Pact - March 10, 1996).

Latin American Integration Association (ALADI)

DATE IN EFFECT: Formed in 1980

MEMBERS: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

OBJECTIVES: Foster trade through sub-regional and regional mechanisms of regional tariff preferences, trade recovery and expansion and duty free concessions to less-developed members.

Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR)

DATE IN EFFECT: March 1991 (Treaty of Asuncion)

MEMBERS: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile (associate member), and Bolivia (associate member, January 1997)

OBJECTIVES: Establish a common market for goods and services by coordinating trade, customs, fiscal and monetary policy. Currently, intra-group trade is virtually free of tariffs. By 2001 existing tariffs must converge.

Group of Three (G-3)

DATE IN EFFECT: 1995

MEMBERS: Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela

OBJECTIVES: Elimination of intra-regional trade barriers within a ten year period (12 years for vehicles). Recent economic constraints on both Mexico and Venezuela have delayed efforts to phase-out tariff and non-tariff regulations.

Chile-Canada

DATE IN EFFECT: In Progress (Signed on December 5, 1996)

MEMBERS: Canada, Chile

OBJECTIVES: The agreement will lead to the termination of tariffs on eighty percent of bilateral trade. The remaining twenty percent will be granted an eighteen year transition period.

Chile-Mexico

DATE IN EFFECT: 1991

MEMBERS: Chile, Mexico

OBJECTIVES: Eliminate all non-tariff restraints by 1998, with the exemption of certain goods, such as cars, which have been given separate accords.

Chile-Venezuela

DATE IN EFFECT: June 1991

MEMBERS: Chile, Venezuela

OBJECTIVES: By 1996 all tariffs were eliminated. Initially, Andean Pact members objected to Venezuela's involvement in trade negotiations with Chile.

Amazon Pact

DATE IN EFFECT: 1978

MEMBERS: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela

OBJECTIVES: Foster scientific development of the Amazon River basin. Specifically, this accord plans to alleviate/control tropical diseases, improve infrastructure and transportation within the region. This plan also encourages tourism and border trade among the participating countries.

U.S. Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA)

DATE IN EFFECT: 1991

MEMBERS: (Eligible countries) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru OBJECTIVES: Certain Andean goods receive duty-free access to U.S. markets, excluding textiles, footwear, canned tuna, and petroleum products. This act marks the trade benefits of countries who participate in U.S. efforts to combat the smuggling of illegal narcotics (the process of certification parallels this act).

Association of Caribbean States (ACS)

DATE IN EFFECT: January 1995

MEMBERS: 14 CARICOM countries, Central America, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba

OBJECTIVES: To establish a free-trade zone by 1998. This treaty hopes to boost its own eligibility to join NAFTA.

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