The Pacific Alliance Agreement Text: An Overview
The Pacific Alliance is a trade bloc comprising four countries in the Americas – Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. The alliance was formed in 2011 with the aim of promoting regional integration, economic growth, and social development through trade liberalization and other forms of cooperation. In 2019, the four countries signed a new version of the Pacific Alliance agreement that updated and expanded the previous text. In this article, we will provide an overview of the Pacific Alliance Agreement text and its key features.
Chapter 1: General Provisions
This chapter lays out the objectives, principles, and definitions of the Pacific Alliance agreement. It establishes the framework for cooperation among the alliance members and defines the scope of the agreement. It also includes provisions on transparency, dispute settlement, and the application of international law.
Chapter 2: Trade in Goods
This chapter deals with the liberalization of trade in goods among the Pacific Alliance countries. It includes provisions on the elimination of tariffs, rules of origin, and customs procedures. It also covers non-tariff barriers, such as technical regulations and sanitary and phytosanitary measures. The chapter also includes a schedule of tariff reductions, which specifies the timeline and the products to be liberalized.
Chapter 3: Trade in Services
This chapter covers the liberalization of trade in services among the Pacific Alliance countries. It includes provisions on the recognition of professional qualifications, the temporary movement of natural persons, and the promotion of investment in services. It also addresses issues related to electronic commerce and intellectual property rights.
Chapter 4: Investment
This chapter deals with the promotion and protection of investment among the Pacific Alliance countries. It includes provisions on national treatment, most-favored-nation treatment, expropriation, and compensation. It also establishes a dispute settlement mechanism for investment disputes.
Chapter 5: Government Procurement
This chapter covers the liberalization of government procurement among the Pacific Alliance countries. It includes provisions on transparency, non-discrimination, and the use of electronic procurement methods. It also establishes a cooperation mechanism for government procurement.
Chapter 6: Competition Policy
This chapter deals with the promotion of competition among the Pacific Alliance countries. It includes provisions on anti-competitive practices, mergers and acquisitions, and state-owned enterprises. It also establishes a cooperation mechanism for competition policy.
Chapter 7: Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
This chapter covers the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) among the Pacific Alliance countries. It includes provisions on access to finance, technology transfer, and capacity building. It also establishes a cooperation mechanism for SMEs.
Chapter 8: Cooperation
This chapter covers the various forms of cooperation among the Pacific Alliance countries. It includes provisions on education, science and technology, culture, and tourism. It also establishes a mechanism for the coordination of cooperation activities.
Chapter 9: Institutional Provisions
This chapter establishes the institutional framework for the Pacific Alliance agreement. It includes provisions on the establishment and functioning of the Pacific Alliance Council, the Commission, and the Secretariat. It also addresses issues related to the budget, the decision-making process, and the management of the agreement.
Conclusion
The Pacific Alliance agreement is a comprehensive and ambitious text that seeks to deepen the integration among the four member countries. It covers a wide range of issues, from trade in goods and services to investment, competition, and cooperation. The agreement also establishes a solid institutional framework for the governance and implementation of the various provisions. Although the agreement is not perfect and there are challenges ahead, the Pacific Alliance is a promising initiative that could contribute to the economic and social development of the region.