Mercosur and U.S. Trade Policy (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
March 22, 2006 |
| Report Number |
RS22408 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
J.F. Hornbeck, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Mercosur is the Common Market of the South established by Brazil, Argentina,Uruguay, and Paraguay in 1991. By reducing barriers to trade and encouragingeconomic investment and sectoral collaboration, Mercosur was created to fosterbalanced economic growth, social development, and political stability in the region.Mercosur has succeeded on the political side and developed as a credible collectivevoice in the World Trade Organization and in talks on the Free Trade Area of theAmericas (FTAA). It has survived difficult economic times and expanded on a limitedbasis to other Latin American countries, yet its success at economic integration is anopen question. Mercosur also has elements of being both a complement and alternativeto the FTAA in the quest for Western Hemisphere integration, so bears careful watchingfor how it may affect the direction of U.S. trade policy in Latin America.
