Weekly Report - 13 February 2014 (WR-14-06)

The heads of state of the member nations of the Pacific Alliance - Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru - gathered in Cartagena de Indias on Colombia’s Caribbean coast this week. Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos praised the massive strides taken by the Pacific Alliance over the last 20 months but stressed that presidents were not gathering in Cartagena to “slap each other on the back, but to discuss what more we can do”. This will indeed be the acid test of its success. Santos insisted that the objectives of the Pacific Alliance were reducing inequality and eradicating poverty, but this sounded like an effort to convince a sceptical domestic audience, especially as he is on the campaign trail. So far the focus has been largely on trade - the main accord signed in Cartagena was to eliminate 92% of import tariffs on goods and services between the four member countries - and trade alone will not accomplish these stated objectives.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 430 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options

• Subscribe
• Sign up for a one-time, 14-day trial