''Americas agreements'' - An interim stage in building the free trade area of the Americas

This Article analyzes the problem of building a pathway towards the future Free Trade Area of the Americas, in particular with regard to the role of existing Latin American free trade areas and customs unions The process of economic integration underway in the Americas is compared to the expansion of the European Community to include the Central and Eastern European (GEE) states, revealing broadly similar features In both processes one finds elements of trade liberalization, institutional coordination, cooperation and harmonization, linkages between trade and social issues and technical and financial assistance. The Community's use of interim association agreements with the CEE countries, therefore, suggests a role for interim ''Americas Agreements'' linking NAFTA with existing Latin American integration systems, as a stage in building the Free Trade Area of Americas.