Review by Choice Review
Editor Roett (political science, Johns Hopkins Univ.) has collected essays valuable for enlightening interested readers on the history and future role of Mercosur as a paradigm for trade liberalization within the hemisphere. Mercosur (Common Market of the South), a treaty among Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay (and since 1996, Chile and Bolivia), constitutes a free trade area among members and a customs union externally (common external tariff). As is made clear in the text, this is an issue of current importance, given the Clinton administration's inability to gain fast track authority so that NAFTA can serve as a blueprint for trade integration. Especially noteworthy are the chapters on Mercosur's origins, its complex political agenda, and the tradeoff between deepening the agreement among members versus expanding throughout the hemisphere. Chapters on Mercosur's external trade negotiations, particularly those with the US and the European Union, illustrate the need for future research in these areas. Accessible to a wide readership. Public, academic, and professional library collections. D. G. Arce M.; University of Alabama
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
