Reconciling subregional and hemispheric integration

This article analyses the type of subregional integration efforts which could at the same time help to further the aims of increasing competitiveness, taking advantage of the opportunities created by the Enterprise for the Americas, and progressing towards an open world economy where multilateral rules rather than the use of naked power prevail. In particular, it is argued that subregional integration can, on the one hand, serve as a precedent for possible subsequent non-discriminatory agreements, while on the other hand it can create favourable conditions for growth based on greater efficiency and competitiveness, as well as promoting domestic and foreign investment.