Presentation

The links between trade and development cannot be denied. In theory, and particularly from the point of view of economic principles, free trade tends to promote well-being by allowing for a better allocation of a nation's resources, leading to comparative advantages and competition between nations. Nevertheless, and due especially to the obstacles to free trade, including subsidies and non-tariff measures, imposed by many, particularly the most developed countries, trade has not produced the anticipated well-being. This is especially true in the case of Latin American countries whose participation in world trade has decreased from 12% in 1950 to 5% at the end of the nineties.

This issue of CAPITULOS examines the links between trade and development from both, a theoretical and a practical perspective. In the first case, it presents an analysis of the basic concepts of trade and development, the economic policies adopted in recent years by Latin American and Caribbean countries and the different integration models and their impact on our region's development policies.

In the second case, it presents a paper prepared by the United Nations' Conference on Trade and development (UNCTAD) that examines the progress made in the issues of concern to developing countries derived from the work program agreed upon at the IV WTO Ministerial Conference held in Doha. It also includes an analysis of Mexico's trade policies and of the role this country can play in the next WTO and FTAA meetings that it will host during 2003. A third article examines social development's international goals and the role played by international cooperation in this field.

Three more articles approach this issue's central subject from different perspectives. The first warns that the inclusion of labor regulations in international trade norms has resurfaced once again. The second examines the private sector's participation in Latin American and Caribbean integration and the third analyzes the political framework within which our region's integration processes have developed.

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