Free Trade Agreements In the Americas: Are the Trade Effects Larger than Anticipated?

摘要

In the wake of the collapse of the much-publicised 'Free Trade Agreement of the Americas' in 2005, observers typically cite only the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Mercado Comun del Sur (Mercosur) as evidence of regional free trade agreements (FTAs) in the Western Hemisphere. However, the 'Americas' have many more FTAs - both at the bilateral level and the regional level. As of 2000, the Americas can boast at least six regional FTAs in operation currently and as many as 17 bilateral FTAs, although four of the 17 are between Western Hemisphere (WH) economies with non-WH economies (USA-Israel, Canada-Israel, Mexico-Israel and Mexico-European Union).