The American continent has a territorial extension of approximately 42 million kilometers squares, divided into 35 autonomous countries, which together house a population of 925.2 million population. In 2009, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of this continent was almost 20 trillion dollars, being the second largest on the planet, lower only than that of Europe (21.3 trillion). Two major global powers are located in America (United States and Canada), in addition to countries which have a representative economy on the world stage: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, among others.
Aiming at the continent's commercial integration, the US government proposed the creation of a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). This great economic bloc would be made up of 34 nations; the only exception would be Cuba, since that country has ideological differences with the United States.
In 1998, in the city of Santiago, capital of Chile, the first meeting was held to debate the creation of the FTAA. On that occasion, it was established that the bloc would enter into force as of 2005. However, several divergent points were raised in new meetings, resulting in the end of negotiations.
The possible creation of the FTAA is a matter of concern for both underdeveloped (mostly) and developed (Canada and United States) countries. This bloc aims to establish a free trade zone on the American continent, where customs tariffs would be gradually eliminated, thus providing the free movement of goods, capital and services. However, the free movement of people and workers between the member countries would not be allowed, because the creator of the FTAA (USA) does not intend to intensify the entry of Latin Americans into his territory.
In this sense, most Latin American countries interpret the creation of the FTAA as a maneuver by the United States to expand its transnational companies across the continent. However, there are opponents in the US too, claiming that the economic bloc would reduce the number of companies in the country, as many of them would migrate to other American nations in search of labor cockroach.
Brazil, in turn, is in an intermediate position, as it is not an economic power like Canada and the United States, nor a country with a fragile economy, like several nations on the continent. Therefore, their participation is a matter of great concern, and may expand and strengthen the national economy or generate socioeconomic problems, such as rising unemployment.
But not joining a continental economic bloc of this magnitude could have negative consequences. Specialists claim that, in a globalized economy, trade relations tend to strengthen in economic blocs. Another aspect that can harm the development of a nation is the possible reprisals imposed by member countries.
A large part of the Latin American population is against the formation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas, a fact expressed through protests against the bloc's implementation. In this sense, the countries have sought to develop alternatives in which everyone can benefit, one of which is the strengthening of Mercosur (Common Market of the South) and CAN (Andean Community), in addition to the creation of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), which is a way of integrating the nations of South America, therefore, without the presence of the States United.
By Wagner de Cerqueira and Francisco
Graduated in Geography