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Member States: Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil,
Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay,
Peru, Uruguay & Venezuela.
Observer States: China, Costa Rica,
Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy,
Japan, Nicaragua (on the path of becoming a member state
since 2011), Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San
Marino, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine.
ALADI is the largest integration group in Latin America
with 13-member states, together representing an area of
20 million square kilometers and a population of more
than 510 million people.
The Latin American Integration Association (Asociación
Latinoamericana de Integración – ALADI) is a regional
organization established by the Treaty of Montevideo in
1980. Its primary objective is to promote economic
integration among Latin American countries with the aim of
enhancing trade and fostering stronger economic relations
within the region. The organization’s headquarters is
located in Montevideo, the capital city of Uruguay.
The fundamental principles of ALADI are defined in the
Treaty of Montevideo and are as follows:
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Regional Economic Integration: ALADI’s ultimate goal is
the establishment of a Latin American Common
Market. It seeks to promote economic integration
as a means to enhance prosperity and support
development among its member states.
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Gradual and Flexible Progress: The treaty adopts the
principle of progressive integration.
Recognizing the economic disparities among
member countries, it allows for differentiated
commitments and measures tailored to each
country’s level of development, thus applying the
principle of flexibility.
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Non-Discrimination Among Members: Member countries are
required to avoid discriminatory practices in
their trade relations with one another. However,
special treatment and privileges may be granted to
less developed member states.
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Acceptance of Multilateral, Bilateral, and Partial
Agreements: ALADI permits the conclusion of
various types of trade agreements among its
members, including multilateral agreements (involving
all members), bilateral agreements (between two
countries), and partial-scope agreements
(covering specific sectors). This reflects a flexible
and multi-format model of integration.
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Reduction of Social and Economic Inequalities: One of
ALADI’s objectives is to mitigate development
disparities among its member countries. To this
end, it provides for special treatment and
cooperation mechanisms for less developed members.
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Reduction of Protective Measures: Customs duties and
other trade-restrictive measures among member
states are to be progressively reduced, with the
overarching aim of liberalizing intraregional trade.
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Cooperation and Technical Assistance: Beyond trade,
ALADI also promotes scientific, technological,
and technical cooperation among its members,
fostering broader collaboration in various areas of
development.
In summary, ALADI’s principles are centered around a
flexible and gradual approach to economic integration,
trade liberalization, the reduction of development
disparities, and the promotion of solidarity and cooperation
throughout Latin America.
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