Intregation processes in North America: the dilemmas of Mexico into the TPP

Abstract

On February 4, 2016, in New Zealand, was signed the final version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), which includes twelve countries located on three continents: America, Asia and Oceania. Quantitatively, the relevance of the agreement is because in these countries are moving 11 percent of the world population, 36 percent of world GDP, 25 percent of trade and 28 percent of foreign direct investment in the global economy. In geopolitical terms, the agreement attracts 11 countries allied with the United States forming a large economic bloc, in front of the progress of China economy. Clearly, the agreement will have different impacts depending on each country characteristics. Mexico specifically already has an agreement with the United States (NAFTA) and in TPP will be dragged into an unfavorable competition. This is the work´s hypothesis for issues related to intellectual property, particularly for pharmaceutical products; also in dispute resolution where transnational corporations can sue states that violate precepts of the Agreement. At sectoral level there are two key activities: the well positioned Mexican automotive industry, in the new agreement will have to face the Japanese, with omens of relative displacement; the other activity threatened in Mexico is textile, by the significant level of competitiveness of Vietnam.