No. 27 (1994): Trade negotiations

The cosmopolitan vision of economic activity is a practical reality that conditions the success or failure of macro and microeconomic policies. This has made it necessary to reflect intensely on national concepts and strategies within the framework of open economy models.

Central America's trade relations with the rest of the world do not escape this reality and are facing a particularly dynamic situation in the international economy. This is clearly reflected in the multilateration of many of the foreign trade sectors, ranging from agriculture and textiles to issues such as trade in services, investment and intellectual property.

At the same time, we are in the presence of a phenomenon that has been evolving rapidly in international trade relations, which is the formation of regional economic blocs. Suffice it to cite the case of the Single European Market, the Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico, the increasingly close relationship between Japan and Southeast Asia, the horizon offered by the initiative for the Americas, FTAA and Central American Integration, among others.

These manifestations have determined the need for the countries of the area to prepare themselves to negotiate in a commercial world organized in a different way, in which multilateral, regional and bilateral negotiations coexist, allowing the countries to have access to the necessary instruments to seek better opportunities for our products in other markets.

This new attitude of Central American countries towards economic policy options in general and trade in particular, compels to negotiate as a sine qua non condition to emerge in a process of trade development. This process generates new issues and problems related to greater participation in the international trade system.

It is evident that the countries of the Central American isthmus have undertaken actions in this direction. The lessons derived are multiple and of high value for the entire region. It is also clear that in order to capitalize on these lessons, we need to make a substantive effort of analysis, reflection and training, to which the Central American Institute of Public Administration, ICAP, is fully committed, offering on this occasion a selection of papers that were prepared to discuss trade negotiation alternatives.