Rethinking Free Trade, Economic Integration and Human Rights in the Americas

This book provides a systematic overview of human rights protections in trade agreements within the Americas, highlighting their evolution and significance.

This comprehensive monograph provides an in-depth examination of how human rights are safeguarded within trade agreements across the Americas. Historically, these agreements primarily focused on economic aspects, often neglecting the critical issue of human rights. However, the rise of 'new regionalism' at the end of the last century has led to a shift. More recent agreements have begun to incorporate clauses that address social concerns, including labor rights and environmental standards, reflecting a growing recognition of the importance of human rights in economic integration.

Rethinking Free Trade, Economic Integration and Human Rights in the Americas argues that the evolving framework for human rights protection within trade agreements enables a transnational approach to human rights issues while simultaneously fostering regional identities. The book meticulously analyzes four significant regional integration processes: the Caribbean Community, the Central American Integration System, the Andean Community of Nations, and the Southern Common Market, along with the North American Free Trade Agreement. Through this analysis, it illustrates how these integration efforts have achieved a notable level of consolidation.

This work is the first to present key sources in English on this topic, making it an invaluable resource for scholars interested in the intersections of free trade and human rights. By shedding light on the complexities of these agreements, Rethinking Free Trade, Economic Integration and Human Rights in the Americas is essential reading for those engaged in the fields of trade policy and human rights advocacy.