List of Regional Blocs in Latin America, Their Mandates, and Headquarters

Latin America is a cultural region that includes countries in the South and North American continents.

Latin America has more than 7 regional blocs that foster peace, cooperation, and stability between the countries.

The following are the regional blocs found in Latin America;

1. Union of South American Nations (UNASUR)

1. 1. The Union of South American Nations is a regional bloc comprising the following countries;
      1. 1. Argentina
         2. Bolivia
         3. Brazil
         4. Chile
         5. Colombia
         6. Ecuador
         7. Guyana
         8. Paraguay
         9. Peru
         10. Surinam
         11. Uruguay
         12. Venezuela
   2. Formed on May 23, 2008, the UNASUR is tasked with continuing the process of South American integration.
   3. The Union of South American Nations headquarters is in Quito Ecuador.
   4. The mandate of the UNASUR is to create in a participatory and consensual manner an open space for integration.
   5. It also promotes unity in the cultural, social, economic, and political affairs among its participant States.

Also read: List of Regional Blocs in Europe, Their Mandates, and Headquarters

2. Andean Community of Nations (CAN)

1. 1. The Andean Community of Nations is a trade bloc made of the following four Latin American countries;
      1. 1. Bolivia
         2. Colombia
         3. Ecuador
         4. Peru
   2. The Andean Community of Nations headquarters is in Lima, Peru.
   3. Its mandate and objectives are;
      1. 1. Promoting growth and development in the member countries through economic and social cooperation.
         2. To raise the position of the region on the global economic stage.

3. Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement

1. 1. Commonly called DR-CAFTA, this is a free trade agreement between the following nations;
      1. 1. The United States of America
         2. Costa Rica
         3. El Salvador
         4. Guatemala
         5. Honduras
         6. Nicaragua
         7. The Dominican Republic
   2. The trade bloc is headquartered in Washington D.C in the United States and has the following mandate;
      1. 1. 1. Creating new commercial opportunities for the United States while promoting regional stability.
            2. Promoting economic integration and development for an important group of U.S. neighbors.
            3. To raise the position of the region on the global economic stage.

4. G3 Free Trade Agreement

1. 1. The G-3 is a free trade agreement between Latin American nations Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela.
   2. Formed in 1995, the G-3 Free Trade Agreement seeks to promote trade and shield member states from the unfair competition through regulations.
   3. The G-3 Free Trade Agreement regulations also safeguard intellectual property rights for business players in all participant countries.
   4. It also created an extended market for goods and services produced in the Member States.

5. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

1. 1. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is an organization comprising 15 Caribbean nations and dependencies.
   2. The members include;
      1. 1. Antigua and Barbuda
         2. The Bahamas
         3. Barbados
         4. Belize
         5. Dominica
         6. Grenada
         7. Guyana
         8. Haiti
         9. Jamaica
         10. Montserrat
         11. Saint Kitts and Nevis
         12. Saint Lucia
         13. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
         14. Suriname
         15. Trinidad and Tobago
   3. The Caribbean Community was formed to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members.
   4. It also ensures the equitable sharing of the benefits of integration.
   5. The Caribbean Community headquarters is in Georgetown, Guyana.

6. Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR)

1. 1. The Southern Common Market is a South American trade bloc comprised of the following countries;
      1. 1.  Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay as full members
         2.  Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Suriname as associate countries.
   2. The Southern Common Market has the following objectives;
      1. 1. 1. Promote free movement of goods, services, and factors of production between States Parties.
            2. Establish a common external tariff and adopt a common trade policy in relation to third States.
            3. Coordinate macroeconomic and sectoral policies between Member States.
            4. Harmonize legislation in relevant areas in order to strengthen the integration process.
   3. Its headquarters are in Montevideo, Uruguay.

7. Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our America (ALBA)

1. 1. The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America is an ideological regional bloc that was founded by Venezuela and Cuba in 2004.
   2. Over time ALBA has gained 10 members namely;
      1. 1. 1.  Antigua and Barbuda
            2. Bolivia
            3. Dominica
            4. Grenada
            5. Nicaragua
            6. Saint Kitts and Nevis
            7. Saint Lucia
            8. Saint Vincent
            9. Grenadines
            10. Suriname
   3. Headquartered in Caracas Venezuela, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America has the following mandate;
      1. 1. 1. To foster collaboration between socialist governments in the region.
            2. To consolidate regional economic integration based on a vision of social welfare and mutual economic aid.
            3. ALBA nations seek to depart from the US Dollar, conducting trade using their own Sucre virtual currency.

8. Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)

1. 1. Known in Portuguese as the Associação Latino-Americana de Integração, ALADI is a Latin American bloc of 13 nations.
   2. The member states are;
      1. 1. Argentina
         2. Bolivia
         3. Chile
         4. Colombia
         5. Cuba
         6. Ecuador
         7. Mexico
         8. Paraguay
         9. Panama
         10. Venezuela
         11. Uruguay
         12. Peru
         13. Brazil
   3. ALADI has the following mandate or objectives;
      1. 1. Promoting the harmonious and balanced socio-economic development of the region.
         2. Promotion and regulation of reciprocal trade and economic cooperation actions contributing to the extension of the market.
         3. Its long-term objective is the gradual and progressive establishment of a Latin-American single market.
   4. The Latin American Integration Association headquarters are in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Also read: List of Regional Blocs in Africa, Their Mandates, and Headquarters

9. United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA)

1. 1. The United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement is a trade bloc between Latin America’s Mexico and its North American counterparts;
      1. 1. The United States of America
         2. Canada
   2. The USMCA has the following mandate;
      1. 1. Creating a more level playing field for American workers, including improved rules of origin for automobiles, trucks, and other products.
         2. Uplifting American farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses by modernizing and strengthening agriculture in North America.
         3. Supporting a 21st-century economy through new protections for U.S. intellectual property.
   3. The USMCA is based in Mexico City, Mexico.