EFTA remains committed to free trade principles and raising standards of living. Its goal was to eliminate all tariffs on bilateral trade between Canada and the United States by 1998. However, rapid integration in Europe prompted Canada and the United States to explore a larger arrangement that would include Mexico. It also calls for liberalized rules regarding government procurement practices, the granting of subsidies, and the imposition of countervailing duties. Other provisions deal with such issues as trade in services, intellectual property rights, and standards of health, safety, and the environment.
Groups cite different numbers depending on whether they represent industry, labor, or government.
The Andean Community was formed in 1969 and today includes Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. It wanted to form a common market by 1995 but performance has been less than was hoped. But progress was constrained by civil wars and wars among members. Now CACM focuses not on trade but on greater deregulation of industry, harmonization of tax laws, and infrastructure improvement. The FTAA would remove tariffs and non-tariff barriers between all member countries over an unspecified number of years once agreement is reached.