Although not as well known as other trade associations or blocs in the region, such as Mercosur, the Andean Community and the Pacific Alliance, the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI) celebrated its Fortieth Anniversary this Tuesday (12.08.2020).
It is the largest and oldest integration body in our region.
Below is the text from the ALADI General Secretariat:
ALADI was established by the Montevideo Treaty of 1980 (MT80), which was originally signed by the governments of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela on August 12, 1980, and later by Cuba (1999) and Panama (2012), countries that together represent an area of 20 million km2 and more than 560 million inhabitants.
Forty years ago, replacing the then Latin American Free Trade Association (ALALC-40), the 1960 founding countries decided to reaffirm their firm will to strengthen the regional integration process, based on pluralism in political and economic matters; the progressive convergence of partial actions towards the formation of a common Latin American market; the flexibility to advance at different speeds; differential treatment based on the level of development of the member countries; and the multiplicity of forms of agreement on trade and integration instruments.
ALADI constitutes the main regulatory framework for regional integration: the versatility of its constitutive conditions has allowed the different subregional integration initiatives such as Mercosur, the Pacific Alliance or the Andean Community to not only coexist within its scope, but also to promote actions that contribute to the fulfillment of the objectives set.
The broad trade framework of our Association is made up of more than 50 preferential agreements between its member countries that have significantly promoted Latin American trade: so much so that 82% of the products traded under their protection between member countries are tariff-free. Although intraregional exports and imports reached 113.530 and 108.627 billion dollars respectively in 2019, ALADI is aware of the need to continue increasing these exchanges to strengthen the region, particularly in these complex times in which we find ourselves, in which we must resort to unity and perseverance.
Today, more than ever, ALADI is committed to promoting initiatives that contribute to broadening and deepening the integration of the region, with a view to achieving the desired goal of establishing a common Latin American market, as established by the subscribers of TM80 four decades ago.
Thus, through the signing of trade and economic complementarity agreements between members, the promotion and facilitation of intraregional trade, the development of competitiveness, cooperation and training, the production of regional reports and statistics and practical tools for economic operators, among other actions, work is being done to achieve the founding objectives. This, while promoting the search for a plural and inclusive integration that takes into account the needs and potential of each of its members and those considered to be of lesser relative economic development.
Similarly, and using new Information and Communication Technologies, ALADI has fostered greater links and interaction with the different sectors of society (public, private, academic, SMEs, women's associations, small farmers, etc.), who ultimately should be the main beneficiaries of integration, regardless of their geographic location.
We are facing times and circumstances that are complex and challenging, not only for our region but also for the entire world. ALADI, as it has done for more than 40 years, will continue to adapt to continue its work of promoting Latin American integration and achieving the objectives set by its member countries, in pursuit of the economic and commercial development of the region and the well-being of its populations.
Only regional integration and solidarity can give us the strength to unite in order to seek the well-being of our societies in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic and social consequences!
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