Free Trade in South America: A Tale of Two Countries' Economic Growth (or Decline?)

摘要

Although Argentina and Colombia both joined trade blocs (the Mercosur and the Andean Pact, respectively), which encourage group trade in integration and open-door policies toward countries outside their bloc, in fact progress toward economic improvement has been fitful. Obstacles include, a desire by corporations to retain traditional protections from competition, resentment by business and labor unions of foreign investment, and the higher unemployment that may accompany privatization programs, at least in the short run. It remains to be seen whether these countries will stay on the free trade path or become more insular in their blocs.