Economy of the Americas
Economic Integration
Economic Integration
--------------------

### Asia\-Pacific Economic Cooperation

The [Asia\-Pacific Economic Cooperation](/wiki/Asia-Pacific_Economic_Cooperation "Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation") (APEC) is a group of [Pacific Rim](/wiki/Pacific_Rim "Pacific Rim") countries which meet with the purpose of improving economic and political ties. APEC's stated goals are aimed at free and open trade and investments by cutting tariffs between zero and five percent in the Asia\-Pacific area for industrialised economies by 2010 and for developing economies by 2020\.

The organisation has members from four continents, those from North America are [Canada](/wiki/Canada "Canada"), [Mexico](/wiki/Mexico "Mexico") and the [United States](/wiki/United_States "United States").

### Caribbean Community

The [Caribbean Community](/wiki/Caribbean_Community "Caribbean Community") (CARICOM) was created *"To provide dynamic leadership and service, in partnership with Community institutions and Groups, toward the attainment of a viable, internationally competitive and sustainable Community, with improved quality of life for all"*.

\- On January 1, 2006 six members: ([Barbados](/wiki/Barbados "Barbados"), [Belize](/wiki/Belize "Belize"), [Guyana](/wiki/Guyana "Guyana"), [Jamaica](/wiki/Jamaica "Jamaica"), [Suriname](/wiki/Suriname "Suriname") and
[Trinidad and Tobago](/wiki/Trinidad_and_Tobago "Trinidad and Tobago")) unofficially ushered in the [Caribbean (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy](/wiki/Caribbean_%28CARICOM%29_Single_Market_and_Economy "Caribbean (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy") (CSME).

\- At the official signing of the protocol on January 30, 2006 in Jamaica, A further six members: ([Antigua and Barbuda](/wiki/Antigua_and_Barbuda "Antigua and Barbuda"), [Dominica](/wiki/Dominica "Dominica"), [Grenada](/wiki/Grenada "Grenada"), [Saint Kitts and Nevis](/wiki/Saint_Kitts_and_Nevis "Saint Kitts and Nevis"), [Saint Lucia](/wiki/Saint_Lucia "Saint Lucia") and [Saint Vincent and the Grenadines](/wiki/Saint_Vincent_and_the_Grenadines "Saint Vincent and the Grenadines")) announced their intention to join by the second quarter of 2006\. [Montserrat](/wiki/Montserrat "Montserrat"), a British Oversees territory is awaiting approval by the [United Kingdom](/wiki/United_Kingdom "United Kingdom"). [Haiti](/wiki/Haiti "Haiti") and [the Bahamas](/wiki/The_Bahamas "The Bahamas") have no immediate plans to join.

### Central American Free Trade Agreement

The [Central American Free Trade Agreement](/wiki/Central_American_Free_Trade_Agreement "Central American Free Trade Agreement") (CAFTA) is an agreement between the [United States](/wiki/United_States "United States") and the Central American countries of [Costa Rica](/wiki/Costa_Rica "Costa Rica"), [Guatemala](/wiki/Guatemala "Guatemala"), [El Salvador](/wiki/El_Salvador "El Salvador"), [Honduras](/wiki/Honduras "Honduras"), and [Nicaragua](/wiki/Nicaragua "Nicaragua"). The treaty is aimed at promoting [free trade](/wiki/Free_trade "Free trade") between its members. [Canada](/wiki/Canada "Canada") and [Mexico](/wiki/Mexico "Mexico") are negotiating membership.

### United States Mexico Canada Agreement

The [United States Mexico Canada Agreement](/wiki/United_States_Mexico_Canada_Agreement "United States Mexico Canada Agreement") (USMCA) is an agreement between Canada, Mexico and the United States to eliminate tariffs on goods traded between themselves as well as environmental and worker protections.

Although currently only a trade agreement, with no supranational bodies or laws as in the [European Union](/wiki/European_Union "European Union"), there have been various proposals to move towards a [customs union](/wiki/Customs_union "Customs union") or a [North American currency union](/wiki/North_American_currency_union "North American currency union"). It is unknown whether or not this may eventually develop into a [North American Union](/wiki/North_American_Union "North American Union") similar to that of [Europe](/wiki/Europe "Europe").


Who is negotiating membership with CAFTA?