Despite abundant scepticism about their economic benefits, Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) have proliferated at a rapid pace. Policy diffusion models explain how different sets of preferential trade agreements are interconnected and establish under what conditions FTAs can work for or against the emergence of coherent regional blocs.

Compares U.S. and Chilean processes for registering pesticides, setting pesticide residue tolerances (max. legal limits) on foods, and monitoring compliance with these tolerances; and determine whether Chilean sanitary and phytosanitary (animal and plant health) rules restrict potential U.S. agricultural exports. 5 charts and tables

"Selection of original papers presented at the international conference 'Latin America's Prospects for Upgrading in Global Value Chains,' held on 14-15 March 2012, at Colegio de Mexico, Mexico City"--Title page vers

One hundred years ago, the world celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal, which connected the world’s two largest oceans and signaled America’s emergence as a global superpower. It was a miracle, this path of water where a mountain had stood—and creating a miracle is no easy thing. Thousands lost their lives, and those who survived worked under the harshest conditions for only a few silver coins a day. From the young "silver people" whose back-breaking labor built the Canal to the denizens of the endangered rainforest itself, this is the story of one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken, as only Newbery Honor-winning author Margarita Engle could tell it.

This unique book addresses recent strides at trade regionalism in the Western Hemisphere. In addition, it provides a detailed discussion of the prospects, potential content, and likely impact of a U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement. Such an accord is very likely. In February 1994 the Clinton Administration announced that negotiations with Chile were expected to begin during the Spring of 1994 with completion at the end of 1995. Prior to focusing on U.S.-Chile trade, the book details contemporary efforts at trade regionalism in the Western Hemisphere, including: the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement, the Caribbean Basin Initiative, the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative, the Andean Trade Preference Act, the Latin American Integration Association, the Caribbean Community Common Market, the Andean Pact, the Central American Common Market, the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) and Chilean bilateral trade and investment arrangements. Next, a synopsis of recent U.S.-Chilean trade and investment relations as well as the impetus for a U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement are provided. In addition, the book offers an empirical assessment of U.S.-Chilean trade and investment relations. It also describes the various issues and topics that are likely to be covered in any U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement. Furthermore, particular U.S. and Chilean market sectors that might be affected by such an agreement are detailed. The conclusion is that a U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement would continue previous attempts at trade regionalism in Western Hemisphere. An annex provides an extensive directory of key government and business contacts in the U.S. and Chile, facilitating trade and investment opportunities for individuals and firms.