As such, it can coexist perfectly well within a broader free-trade area for the entire hemisphere. But if this is so, then we must ask if deep noneconomic integration within the framework of Mercosur is really possible. Finally, the intal report reflects on a subject often left out of discussions about regional and hemispheric integration. For one thing, integration is a means, not an end in itself. Countries seek the road to integration as a path to economic and social development, but ultimately, development depends on policies adopted by each country.
Chile is a good example.
In contrast, Brazil today is carrying out a series of economic reforms, including an important liberalization of trade. The objective of this policy is to strengthen the potential of the regional market and at the same time create a basis for competing on the international markets. How to reconcile these two objectives is the challenge facing Brazil as well as Mercosur. The author is senior economist at the Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean.