The approach of Latin American countries to preferential trade agreements (PTAs) is a fascinating topic. There is a rich history of policymakers using PTAs to pursue different economic and political models of integration. What really stands out is the diversity of approaches and attitudes to the use of PTAs. While some countries have been rule-makers and have made innovative attempts to introduce new issues, others have been reluctant to use PTAs. In response to the growing interest in and politicisation of PTAs in the wider public – including renewed consideration of 'with whom to trade' – this book brings together scholars from inside and outside Latin America to address the past, present, and future challenges associated with PTAs. The contributions, from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, offer new insights into issues related to the design, diffusion, and impact of PTAs. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.
1. Introduction Manfred Elsig, Andrew Lugg and Rodrigo Polanco; 2. Mapping the PTA universe in Latin America Manfred Elsig, Kirthana Ganeson, Andrew Lugg and Marine Roux; 3. Preferences for trading partners: evidence from citizens and legislators in Latin America Andreas Dür and Robert A. Huber; 4. Making trade agreements work for women: what's behind the South American approach? Amrita Bahri; 5. Assessing special and differential treatment in Latin American trade agreements Julieta Zelicovich, Juliana Peixoto, Leticia Daibert and Valentina Delich; 6. Digital and environmental provisions in Latin American trade agreements Sebastian Klotz and Cristian Ugarte; 7. Trade law impact on food security in Latin America: Colombia's 2016 peace agreement case Jose Manuel Alvarez Zarate, Maria Camila Camargo Moncayo, Sofia Urrea Zuluaga and Diana Maria Beltran Vargas; 8. How preferential trade agreements are perceived in Chile: from love to hate in a single step? Dorotea Lopez and Andres Borquez; 9. Chile's PTA services impact assessment: looking beyond trade flows: women's employment participation Felipe Munoz and Javiera Caceres; 10. Food labelling regulation of the pacific alliance members Victor Saco; 11. The political economy of investment protection reform in South American PTAs Julia Calvert; 12. Trade protectionism and integration in Latin America the cases of Brazil and Mexico Nicolas Albertoni and Carol Wise; 13. Anti-China sentiment and the politics of Brazilian agribusiness Daniela Campello and Francisco Urdinez.
Manfred Elsig is professor at the World Trade Institute, University of Bern. His research focuses on international political economy and international institutions. He is a co-founder of the Design of Trade Agreement database (DESTA) and the co-editor of the journal 'World Trade Review (CUP/WTO)'. Recent publications include: 'The Concept Design of a Twenty-First Century Preferential Trade Agreement' (CUP, 2024). Rodrigo Polanco is a Senior Lecturer, Researcher, and Academic Coordinator at the World Trade Institute, University of Bern, a Legal Adviser at the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law, and a Visiting Professor at the University of Chile. He has published extensively on investment, trade, tax, and environmental law with leading international academic publishers and journals. Andrew Lugg is an Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research focuses on international political economy and international organizations. His work has appeared in academic journals including International Studies Quarterly, Review of International Organizations, Journal of Conflict Resolution, and Journal of International Economic Law.