Economic integration and value chains case study: Dairy products in Central America

Central America has the oldest and deepest integration process in the Americas. It has evolved from a process of market integration into a broader process that includes a degree of social integration and some common political and judicial institutions. However, trade matters are still the core of the integration since this is the only arena in which there is agreement between all Central American countries. Since 1960, the region has been opening internal trade to most regional products, and today 95.7% of total goods are covered by a harmonized external tariff and can be freely traded within Central America.

Related Subject(s): Economic and Social Development