The main integration groups in the modern world, their place in the international economy. Abstract integration groups

Today, integration groups operate on all continents except Antarctica. The greatest economic and political weight among them are the European Union (EU), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations East Asia(ASEAN), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur). Among the less significant groups are Andean community and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Some researchers classify the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which unites more than 20 countries from different parts of the world, as an integration association. In our opinion, it represents a multilateral forum.

European Union - EU ( European Union- EU), currently numbering 27 member states, is the largest and most developed integration grouping in the world. Over more than half a century of history, the European Union has admitted new members 7 times; its members have created a developed legislative framework and system of governing bodies. The EU was the first of all regional groupings to move to the stage of a common market (1993) and a monetary union (1999). The official goals of the EU are to strengthen peace, spread common EU values, and improve the well-being of peoples.

The activities of the European Union extend to many different areas. It pursues a common economic and single monetary policy, a common security and defense policy, an agricultural, regional, scientific and technical, transport, and environmental policy. Together, we are fighting crime and terrorism, Schengen rules are in effect, and common citizenship has been introduced. The European Union has an extensive network of relations with third countries and their groups, as well as with international organizations.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTAi) was formed in 1988 as a result of negotiations on the creation of an FTA between the United States and Canada. Since 1994, Mexico has become a member. The association was created at the initiative of the United States in response to new global challenges - the progress of European integration and the further liberalization of world trade. The Uruguay Round of GATT negotiations, which began in 1986, envisaged the opening of markets for agricultural goods, textiles and services. The formation of the North American FTA helped protect local producers and open up new markets for them on their continent.

NAFTA is an incomplete FTA and does not provide for the creation of a customs union. Customs duties and quantitative restrictions on most commodity items have been abolished among the participants, capital movements and financial services markets have been liberalized, and general rules for the protection of intellectual property are in effect.

At the same time, NAFTA members maintain protectionism in the fields of energy, transport engineering and agriculture - all of which provide significant government support to farmers. The question of free movement labor force doesn't rise due to large flow illegal migrants from Mexico to the USA.

NAFTA operates strictly on the principles of interstate cooperation, which excludes the existence of supranational bodies and general legislation. The agreement does not provide general bodies, in addition to three commissions that resolve disputes regarding mutual trade, environmental standards and working conditions.

Association of countries Southeast Asia- ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations - ASEAN) was created in 1967 and has 10 members. Its founders were Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. They were later joined by Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. ASEAN now consists of three communities: security, economic and socio-cultural.

Initially, ASEAN's security objectives were to protect its members from stronger neighbors (Japan and the United States), to act jointly in the international arena, and to resolve ethnic and social conflicts in the region. In 1971, participants adopted a declaration establishing a zone of peace, freedom and neutrality in Southeast Asia. In 1976-1991 The association played an important role in resolving the military conflict between Kampuchea and Vietnam. Nowadays it solves such problems as preventing and resolving conflicts, post-conflict peacekeeping, and improving the normative framework of political relations.

When creating ASEAN, the founding countries were associated with the presence of a market economy and the desire to protect themselves from the influence of their neighbors - China, Vietnam, Laos and Kampuchea - who were building a planned economy. The current goal of the ASEAN economic community is to create a stable, prosperous and highly competitive economic space in the region, which ensures the free movement of goods, services and investments.

By 2000, six members (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand) had effectively created FTAs, reducing import tariffs to 0-5% on 99% of goods. According to the 2009 Trade in Goods Agreement, the six countries committed to eliminate customs duties in 2010, while the remaining participants will do so in 2015-2018. ASEAN economic cooperation also extends to the areas of monetary and financial relations, transport, tourism, telecommunications and energy.

The ASEAN socio-cultural community has the following goals: the formation of a common regional identity, improving living standards (especially for socially disadvantaged groups), developing education and protecting the environment.

The Commonwealth of Independent States - CIS - was created in December 1991 in connection with the collapse of the USSR. Its members are 11 states: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. The goals of the CIS are set out in the Charter adopted in 1993. The main ones are:

Cooperation in politics, economics and other areas;

Socio-economic development of member states;

Ensuring human rights and fundamental freedoms;

Ensuring international peace and security, reducing arms and eliminating weapons of mass destruction.

The CIS operates strictly on the principles of interstate cooperation, the legal basis of which is multi- and bilateral agreements. The Commonwealth does not have supranational powers, and its member states are independent subjects of international law. Decisions within the CIS are made only unanimously; votes in the governing bodies are distributed according to the principle of one country - one vote. Ego, on the one hand, guarantees the equality of all members of the group, and on the other, complicates the process of developing collective decisions (for more information about the CIS, see Chapter 43).

The common market of the Southern Cone countries - Mercosur (Mercado Council del Sur - Mercosur) was formed in 1991 by four Latin American countries - Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Political dialogue between the initiators of the unification and the largest countries in the region - Brazil and Argentina - became possible after the restoration of democracy in them and the coming to power of civilian governments. One of the factors in the creation of Mercosur was the plan for a pan-American FTA (Free Trade area of the Americas), announced by the United States in 1989. Looking ahead, let's say that by the mid-2000s it was completely discredited and removed from the agenda.

The founding agreement of Mercosur, signed in the capital of Paraguay, Asuncion, defines the goals of the association as follows:

Free movement of goods, services and factors of production, reduction of tariffs and elimination of non-tariff restrictions;

Introduction of a common customs tariff and implementation of a common trade policy towards third countries;

Coordination of macroeconomic, foreign trade, agricultural, industrial, budgetary, monetary and transport policies;

Harmonization of the legislation of member countries in these areas.

Taking into account the evolution of international events, especially the consolidation of large economic areas, and the importance of the full inclusion of their countries in world economic processes... the member states decide to establish a Common Market.

Treaty of Asuncion, 1991 Article 1 Preamble

The main body of Mercosur is the Common Market Council, which meets at the level of ministers (agriculture, economics, culture, internal affairs, etc.). The Common Market Group deals with current and technical issues of economic cooperation. The Trade Commission is responsible for customs laws and tariffs, competition regulations and consumer protection. Mercosur also has a common parliament, a consultative socio-economic forum, a secretariat, and a permanent court.

Since January 1, 1995, Mercosur has had a customs union. The uniform customs tariff in relation to third countries covers 85% of commodity items. Coordination of positions on the remaining, most sensitive goods is proceeding slowly due to the divergence of interests of the participating states (for more information about Mercosur, see Chapter 32).

The Economic Community of West African States - ECOWAS was created in 1975. Its members are 16 states: Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Togo, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Mauritania. The community was formed on the basis of the former colonies of France in West Africa.

According to the Lagos Treaty, the goal of ECOWAS is to create a customs union and then a common market. Participants jointly solve problems such as harmonization of economic policies and the elimination of all restrictions when carrying out economic transactions; harmonization of agricultural policies, achieving food self-sufficiency; industrial policy harmonization; development of transport and communications, construction of a network of roads; cooperation in the field of electricity production and mining; ensuring free movement of labor (in force since 1979); improvement of the monetary system.

In 1993, after ECOWAS participated in ceasefire efforts in Liberia, another goal was added to the community's founding treaty - maintaining peace in the region.

Eight ECOWAS countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Togo, Guinea-Bissau) make up the West African Economic and Monetary Union. It issues a common monetary unit, which, together with the monetary unit of the similar Central African Union, forms the so-called CFA franc (Franc des Colonies Francaises d’Afrique), strictly pegged to the euro.

The main body of ECOWAS is the Conference of Heads of State, held twice a year. The Council of Ministers meets at the same frequency. Special commissions deal with current issues of trade, customs duties, industry and transport. The Tribunal interprets the provisions of the Treaty and resolves disputes between member states.

The Andean Community (Comunidad Andina) was created under the name Andean Pact in 1969 by five countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru. Chile later left the union.

The objectives of the community are to promote balanced development, economic growth and employment in member states; the gradual creation of a common market for Latin American countries; strengthening the positions of member states in the global economy and reducing their dependence on external forces; strengthening the solidarity of member states and reducing imbalances between them; improving the quality of life of citizens.

Since 1993, an FTA has been in effect within the framework of the association, and since 1995, a common customs tariff has been in effect. From 1970 to 2005, mutual trade turnover between the four countries increased more than 80 times. The group’s achievements also include the introduction of a common passport, the abolition of visa regimes and passport controls at borders, and significant liberalization of the labor market (for more information on the Andean Community, see Chapter 32).

The group of developing countries (less developed, underdeveloped, “third world”) includes states with a low level of economic development.

The economic integration of developing countries reflects the desire of young states to accelerate the development of their own productive forces. Examples of such integration groupings are: ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Arab Common Market, Latin American Integration Association (LAI), Central African Customs Union (CACU), Central American Common Market (CAOC), MERCOSUR (Southern Cone Integration) .

The process of integration in developing countries is slow, which is explained by: 1. internal features of the economies of individual countries(low level of development of productive forces, monoculture of the national economy, lack of financial resources for the implementation of regional projects); 2. significant differences in economic(including foreign economic) strategies of group members and their chosen development models; 3. the nature of the relationships between the integrating states ( insufficient development of infrastructure, low degree of complementarity of integrating countries); 4. external factors(financial dependence on industrialized countries, significant control over foreign trade and export production of developing countries by international corporations); 5. political instability.

Main reason The failure of most integration experiences in the “Third World” lies in the fact that they lack two main prerequisites for successful integration - similar levels of economic development and a high degree of industrialization. Since the main trading partners of developing countries are developed countries, the integration of Third World countries with each other is doomed to stagnation. The best chances are for the newly industrialized countries (they predominate in ASEAN and MERCOSUR), which have approached the level of development of the industrialized ones.

The Latin American Integration Association (LAI) was created in 1980. The organization's members are 11 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Ecuador. Within the framework of this association, the Andean and Laplata groups and the Amazon Pact were formed. LAI members have concluded preferential trade agreements among themselves.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Created in 1967. It includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Brunei. In July 1997, Burma, Laos and Cambodia were admitted to the association. The total population of this group is 330 million people, the annual total GNP is 300 billion dollars.

MERCOSUR – Common Market of the Southern Cone countries, created in 1991 by countries South America. This organization includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay. The population of the four countries is 200 million people. The total GDP exceeds $1 billion. Institutional structures and supranational bodies have been created: the Common Market Council, the Common Market Group and the Arbitration Court.

End of the 20th century marked by the beginning of intensive interaction between East Asian countries according to the 7 + 3 formula (ASEAN countries, as well as China, Japan and South Korea). These countries account for 32% of the world population, 19% of world GDP, 25% of exports and 18% of imports, as well as 15% of the influx of foreign direct investment.

32 . Integration processes within the CIS.

The Commonwealth of Independent States is an attempt to reintegrate the former Soviet republics under market economy conditions. But it cannot be said that this process has already produced any tangible results. Currently, it takes place mainly at the level of creating political and functional bodies and developing legislative framework, which would contribute to the expansion of economic ties between the republics within the CIS.

Currently, the political bodies of the CIS are already operating - the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government (CHG). Functional bodies have also been formed, including representatives of the relevant ministries and departments of the states that are members of the Commonwealth. This is the Customs Council, the Council for railway transport, Interstate Statistical Committee.

When analyzing the countries that are part of the CIS, some scientists distinguish three groups depending on the basis on which states build relationships with Russia.

1. States that, in the short and medium term, are critically dependent on external assistance, primarily Russian. These are Armenia, Belarus and Tajikistan.

2. States that are significantly dependent on cooperation with Russia, but are distinguished by a more balanced foreign economic relations. These are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

3. States that have weak economic dependence on Russia, and this dependence continues to decline. These include Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. (Turkmenistan is special case. It does not need the Russian market, but is completely dependent on the export gas pipeline system passing through Russian territory).

The countries of the third group strive to pursue the most independent economic and political course, considering large-scale exploitation of natural resources to be the basis of their development.

At the same time, the countries of the first group are the most active supporters of reintegration within the post-Soviet space.

However, the question remains open about how beneficial it is for our country to carry out reintegration with those CIS countries that strive for it to the greatest extent. Compared to these countries, Russia has undergone deeper market reforms, which has allowed the economic situation in the country to somewhat improve. But this does not mean that Russia has such economic potential that would allow it to become a donor for integration partners.

Currently, within the CIS there are documented associations of states that are different both in their composition and in their economic content. These are such integration groups as the Union of Belarus and Russia, the Central Asian Economic Community (unites Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), the Customs Union of Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the alliance of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova - GUAM.

The development of integration processes in the CIS reflects the internal political and socio-economic problems facing the participating countries. Existing differences in the structure of the economy and the depth of market reforms determine the choice and level of socio-economic interaction between countries in the post-Soviet space.

Integration programs

Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC)- an international economic organization endowed with functions related to the formation of common external customs borders of its member states (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), the development of a unified foreign economic policy, tariffs, prices and other components of the functioning of the common market.

Tasks:

Completion of the full registration of the free trade regime, the formation of a common customs tariff and a unified system of non-tariff regulation measures;

Ensuring freedom of capital movement;

Formation of a common financial market;

Harmonization of the principles and conditions for the transition to a single currency within the EurAsEC;

Establishment general rules trade in goods and services and their access to domestic markets;

Creation of a common unified system of customs regulation;

Development and implementation of interstate target programs;

Creation equal conditions for production and business activities;

Formation of a common market for transport services and a unified transport system;

Formation of a common energy market;

Creation of equal conditions for access of foreign investments to the markets of the Parties;

Providing citizens of the Community states with equal rights in obtaining education and medical care throughout its entire territory;

Approximation and harmonization of national legislations;

Ensuring interaction between the legal systems of the EurAsEC states in order to create a common legal space within the Community.

Structure

Interstate Council- the highest body of the Eurasian Economic Community. It is composed of the heads of state and government of the community. The Interstate Council considers fundamental issues of the Community related to the common interests of the participating states, determines the strategy, directions and prospects for the development of integration and makes decisions aimed at realizing the goals and objectives of the EurAsEC.

Integration Committee- a permanent body of the Eurasian Economic Community. It consists of deputy heads of government of the EurAsEC states. The main tasks of the Integration Committee include ensuring interaction between EurAsEC bodies, preparing proposals for the agenda of meetings of the Interstate Council, as well as draft decisions and documents, monitoring the implementation of decisions adopted by the Interstate Council. Meetings of the Integration Committee are held at least four times a year.

Secretariat- The Secretariat performs the function of organizing and providing information and technical support for the work of the Interstate Council and the Integration Committee. The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary General of the Eurasian Economic Community. This is the highest administrative official of the community, appointed by the Interstate Council.

Interparliamentary Assembly- a body of parliamentary cooperation within the EurAsEC that considers issues of harmonization (convergence, unification) of national legislation and bringing it into compliance with treaties concluded within the EurAsEC in order to implement the objectives of the Community.

Community Court ensures uniform application by the contracting parties of the Treaty on the Establishment of the Eurasian Economic Community and other treaties in force within the Community and decisions taken by EurAsEC bodies.

Common Economic Space (SES)- a project of economic, and subsequently, possibly, political integration of three CIS states - Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus

Concepts

The purpose of the formation of the SES is to create conditions for the stable and effective development of the economies of the participating states and improve the living standards of the population.

The basic principles of the functioning of the SES are to ensure freedom of movement of goods, services, capital and labor across the borders of the participating states.

The principle of free movement of goods provides for the elimination of exceptions from the free trade regime and the removal of restrictions in mutual trade on the basis of the unification of customs tariffs, the formation of a common customs tariff established on the basis of a methodology agreed upon by the participating states, non-tariff regulation measures, and the use of instruments for regulating trade in goods with third countries. The mechanisms for applying anti-dumping, countervailing, special and protective measures in mutual trade will be replaced by uniform rules in the field of competition and subsidies.

The SES is being formed gradually, by increasing the level of integration, through the synchronization of economic transformations carried out by the participating states, joint measures to implement a coordinated economic policy, harmonization and unification of legislation in the field of economics, trade and other areas, taking into account generally accepted norms and principles of international law, as well as the experience and legislation of the European Union.

Directions of integration and measures for their implementation are determined on the basis of relevant international treaties and decisions of the SES bodies, which provide for the mandatory implementation of them for each of the participating states in full, as well as the mechanism for their implementation and responsibility for failure to implement agreed decisions.

The formation and activities of the SES are carried out taking into account the norms and rules of the WTO.

Coordination of the processes of formation of the SES is carried out by the relevant bodies created on the basis of individual international treaties. The structure of organs is formed taking into account the levels of integration.

The legal basis for the formation and activities of the SES are international treaties and decisions of the SES bodies, concluded and adopted taking into account the interests and legislation of the member states and in accordance with generally recognized norms and principles of international law.

Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan- an interstate agreement on the creation of a single customs space, signed by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Customs Union, CU- an agreement of two or more states (a form of interstate agreement) on the abolition of customs duties in trade between them, a form of collective protectionism from third countries. The Customs Union also provides for the formation of a “single customs territory”. Typically, member countries of the Customs Union agree to create interstate bodies that coordinate the implementation of an agreed foreign trade policy. As a rule, this consists of holding periodic meetings of ministers heading the relevant departments, which in their work rely on the permanent interstate Secretariat. In fact, we are talking about a form of interstate integration that involves the creation of supranational bodies. In this regard, the Customs Union is a much stricter form of integration than, for example, a free trade area.

33. Balance of payments: principles of compilation. Trade balance: its types

The balance of payments is statistical data for a certain period of time, reflecting: a) transactions in goods, services and finance between a given country and the rest of the world; b) changes in ownership and other changes in the country's economy relating to national gold reserves, special drawing rights (SDRs), assets and liabilities in relation to the rest of the world; c) unclaimed transfers and counter-accounts required in accounting to balance other accounts for previous transactions and changes that are not mutually compensated.

Since the balance of payments is a statistical summary of a country's transactions with the outside world, each of its transactions must be classified into one section or another in accordance with certain classification principles.

The standard components of the balance of payments are determined based on the following basic assumptions:

* the selected component of the balance of payments must contain characteristic features and differ significantly from other components;

* the component must be significant for a number of countries;

* for each component there must be enough statistical data to evaluate it quantitatively;

* each component must be used in statistics of the monetary and budget sectors;

* the list of standard components should not be too long, so as not to complicate subsequent analysis.

Trade balance- one of the key indicators. It reflects the results of a country's participation in international trade and is an integral part of the balance of payments (Current Account). The balance is the ratio between the sum of prices of goods exported outside a given state and the sum of prices of goods imported into the territory of this state, i.e. difference between export and import. First, exports are analyzed, because it has a direct impact on the value of growth in the economy.

Imports, in turn, reflect the demand for goods within the country (an increase in imports reflects the formation of inventories, which may indicate a possible subsequent slow increase in sales). The trade balance is influenced by the exchange rate, which adjusts the nominal value of import receipts in local currency. If the sum of prices of exported goods exceeds the sum of prices of imported goods, then the trade balance is active (positive balance); if imports exceed exports, it is passive (negative balance).

A positive balance (or a decrease in the negative balance) is a favorable factor for the growth of the national currency. IN recent years The US trade balance is passive, and therefore the indicator is designated as “Trade Deficit”. The market reaction depends on the relevance of the trade balance results for the economy at the moment. It should be noted that the volatility of monthly trade balance figures can play an important role in forecasting GDP. This happens because the volume of imports is subtracted from GDP, and the volume of exports is added to it.

International classification of diseases and related health problems. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is a system for grouping diseases and pathological conditions

Global crisis of 1929 -1933. Ways out of it for different countries. The onset of fascism and the increasing threat of world war

Western European integration is represented by two main groups. The most developed of all integration groups is the European Union (EU). It appeared after the merger in 1967 of the governing bodies of three previously independently existing regional organizations:

the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), in force since 1952;

the European Economic Community (EEC), which operated from 1957-1958;

The European Atomic Energy Community (Euroatom), active since 1958.

The development of integration within the EU has gone through a number of stages. Gradually there was a transition from lower to higher forms: the creation of a customs union; monetary, economic and political union, creation of the European Monetary System; signing of the Single European Act establishing a single internal market, etc.

Currently, the EU unites twenty-seven states.

The main structural elements of the EU are:

the European Council (European Council), which includes the heads of state and government of EU member states;

The EU Commission is the executive body that submits draft laws to the Council of Ministers for approval;

The European Parliament is the body that controls the activities of the EU Commission and approves the budget;

The Council of Ministers is a legislative body that plays a major role in the system of power and makes decisions on the implementation of a common EU policy;

The Court of Justice of the European Union is the highest judicial body charged with ensuring the implementation of treaties and the implementation of fundamental principles EU.

There are other government, advisory and auxiliary bodies, commissions, subcommittees, etc.

Within the EU, all barriers to mutual economic relations have been abolished and a single market has been created. Active agricultural, industrial, energy, transport, scientific, technical, social and regional policies are being pursued. For its implementation, special funds and the general budget of the Union have been created.

The real result of the EU's activities is, first of all, the strengthening of the position of national capital, its concentration and centralization, the development of international specialization and cooperation, the strengthening of the economic potential of agriculture, and the growth of mutual trade. Integration contributed to bringing the level of less developed countries closer to that of more developed countries. The introduction of a unified monetary system led to the strengthening and simplification of trade, financial, credit and other ties. The euro has become a serious competitor to the dollar as the world's main reserve currency.

However, despite the progress achieved, problems remain in EU countries, for example, in some of them there is a significant level of unemployment. The problems of differences between EU countries in the levels of socio-economic, scientific and technical development, and the preservation of backward and depressed areas (the Baltic countries) remain relevant. Not all EU member countries are part of the euro area (for example, Great Britain).

The second European grouping is the European Free Trade Association, which arose in 1960. Its members are 9 states: Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Malta, etc.

EFTA solves the following main tasks:

Ensuring free trade in industrial goods;

Joint solution of economic, scientific and technical problems, development of activity zones and provision of employment;

Creating conditions for a more complete use of resources, promoting increased labor productivity;

Strengthening the coordination of trade policies together with the EU.

Unlike the EU, in EFTA each country retains foreign trade autonomy and its own customs duties in trade with third countries; there is no single customs tariff. A significant feature is that the free trade regime does not apply to agricultural goods. There are also no supranational regulatory bodies.

North American integration is represented by such a group as the North American Free Trade Area.

In 1993, the United States, Canada and Mexico signed the Agreement establishing the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA), which has been in force since January 1994. The NAFTA Agreement has certain specifics. The fact is that this was the first trade and economic agreement signed, on the one hand, by two highly developed countries (the USA and Canada), and on the other, by a developing country (Mexico). Second, NAFTA can be seen as a kind of “asymmetric” agreement. The United States is at the center of the economic “structure” of this agreement, and the economic interaction between Canada and Mexico looks much weaker than the interaction between the United States and Canada and the United States and Mexico.

The main objectives of the NAFTA agreement were:

Removing barriers to trade and promoting the free movement of goods and services between countries;

Establishing fair competition conditions within the free trade zone;

Significant increase in investment opportunities in the member countries of the agreement;

Ensuring the protection of intellectual property rights in each country;

Implementation and application of this agreement to resolve trade disputes;

In the future, the possibility of expanding the scope of this agreement by including new participating countries was considered.

Overall, a very important achievement of NAFTA was the elimination of discrimination against Mexican goods in the US and Canadian markets, and Mexico, in turn, abolished import licenses for goods from the US and Canada.

It is important that NAFTA went beyond the first stage of the integration process - the free trade area. Conditions were created for the free movement of goods, as well as services, labor, and capital. The inclusion of a section on trade in services in the agreement was of great importance, and general approaches to providing national regimes for foreign direct investment were worked out.

In addition, within the framework of NAFTA there are agreements:

On the protection of intellectual property;

On the harmonization of technical standards, sanitary norms, etc.;

On the formation of a mechanism for resolving disputes (anti-dumping problems, subsidies, etc.).

In the future, issues of practical merger of the markets of the participating countries will become relevant. However, under this agreement there are no organizational structures, are similar to the structures in the European Community.

However, there are bodies such as the Free Trade Commission; financial services committee, etc.

In general, NAFTA is at the initial stages of the integration process compared to the EU. The US leadership is taking measures to extend the principles of NAFTA to all countries of America and to sign the corresponding agreement by all countries of this continent. It's about about attempts to create the so-called American Free Trade Area, which could unite 34 countries of North and South America.

Since the goal of creating such an integration grouping in the near future is proving difficult to achieve, negotiations are aimed at concluding bilateral free trade agreements that take into account the interests of the United States and the capabilities of individual countries.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the first intergovernmental economic organization, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), was created in 1989. It consists of 21 countries, which vary significantly in their economic development. APEC includes developed countries: the USA. Canada, Japan; newly industrialized countries: Singapore, South Korea, Thailand; developing countries Vietnam, China, etc. Russia is a member of this organization.

The main goals of the APEC Forum were: promoting economic growth of participating countries; development and strengthening of an open multilateral system in the region; encouraging mutual trade in goods, services and cross-border investments; reduction of restrictions in mutual trade in accordance with WTO standards.

Within the framework of APEC, regional rules for conducting trade, economic, scientific, technical and investment activities are being developed and implemented. The issues of specific areas of economic interaction in APEC are dealt with by: the Committee on Trade and Investment, the Economic Committee, the Committee on Budget and Management, the Subcommittee on Economic and Technical Cooperation, subcommittees on customs procedures, etc. The highest body is the meetings of heads of state and government. The governing and coordinating body is the meeting of foreign ministers

Activities in APEC are aimed at discussing and searching for agreed solutions in the following areas:

Achieving benefits from globalization and the new economy;

Promoting trade and investment liberalization, introducing simplified procedures to improve trade efficiency, working to improve the investment climate in the region, etc.;

Maintaining sustainable economic growth;

It is envisaged to expand cooperation in the financial sector, conduct a dialogue on macroeconomic policy to ensure greater predictability of economic development of the countries of the region, etc.

In fact, the APEC Forum is an attempt to form the world's largest free trade area. But at the same time, there are a number of contradictions that complicate the solution of the tasks. This is due, first of all, to the continuing differentiation of the countries included in this group in terms of socio-economic and political development. In the APEC Forum there are no mutual obligations binding countries in implementing the joint decisions they have made. There are several different subregional groupings within APEC:

ASEAN (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, etc.);

ANZSERT (Australia, New Zealand);

Free trade zones between Chile and Canada, Chile and Mexico.

Russia has been a member of the APEC Forum since 1998. However, with positive aspects This participation also has certain negative aspects of this process. Since the Russian economy (and above all Far East and Siberia, which interact most closely with other countries of the Asia-Pacific region) does not yet have high competitiveness, and the liberalization of mutual trade with the countries of the community and the opening of the Russian market for them can lead to the displacement of domestic products from it by foreign competing firms.

Processes of international economic integration are also taking place in developing countries. The largest and most dynamic trade and political unions in Latin America include the South American Common Market consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay (MERCOSUR).

The Treaty establishing MERCOSUR, concluded in 1991, provided for the abolition of all duties and tariff restrictions in mutual trade between the four countries, the establishment of a single customs tariff in relation to third countries, the free movement of capital and labor, coordination of policies in industry, agriculture, transport and communications, coordination of strategy in the monetary and financial sphere.

To guide the integration process, supranational governing bodies were created: the Common Market Council, composed of foreign ministers; executive body – the Common Market Group, 10 technical commissions subordinate to the Common Market Group, whose functions include issues of foreign trade, customs regulation, monetary, financial and macroeconomic policies, etc.

The results of the functioning of MERCOSUR indicate certain successes of the integration group, despite the incompleteness of the formation of the customs union. Mutual foreign economic relations have expanded, export volumes have increased, etc.

However, integration processes are not developing without difficulties and contradictions between the participating countries. Thus, they were unable to reach an agreement on the complete abolition of tariffs in intraregional trade by the originally scheduled date. It was not possible to agree on unified external tariffs on imports of goods from third countries in a timely manner; Argentina and Brazil are paying special attention to protecting the high-tech industries they are creating in their production of computers and telecommunications equipment from foreign competitors.

The prospects for MERCOSUR are assessed by analysts as favorable.

The ASEAN integration association operates in the Asia-Pacific region. This group was created in 1967, which includes 9 countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, etc.

The purpose of creating the association is to promote the social and economic development of member countries, develop cooperation in industry and agriculture, and conduct research work.

ASEAN's highest body is the Conference of Heads of State and Government, which meets once every three years, and the central governing body is the annual meeting of Foreign Ministers. At regular meetings, decisions on economic cooperation are made. There are also several specialized institution ASEAN, such as the Petroleum Council, the Shipowners Association, the Banking Council, etc.

In general, in the economic sphere it is planned to create a free trade zone, as well as deepen cooperation in such areas as security, finance, telecommunications, tourism, environment etc. In the field of politics, it is planned to create a region of peace, freedom and neutrality, deepening cooperation, especially with Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, South Korea and the USA.

About 40 different types of international organizations economic and financial profile. Among them are:

Customs and Economic Union of Central African Countries, created in 1964 by Gabon, Cameroon, Congo, South Africa and others to form a common market (UDEAC);

Council of Concord, uniting Benin, Togo, Niger, Ivory Coast, etc.;

The East African Community, which unites Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, etc.

In general, integration processes on the African continent are very difficult, which is primarily due to the extremely low level of development of most African countries. Therefore, some of them, for example countries North Africa They see their prospects in more active interaction with developed countries, and, above all, with EU countries.

The Arab states of the Persian Gulf are also showing growing interest in integration and close mutually beneficial cooperation. Since 1981, the Cooperation Council for a number of Arab states has been functioning, consisting of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Oman - the so-called “oil six”.

A number of regional integration agreements operate on a bilateral basis.

The common leading organization for all Arab states is the Arab League, headquartered in Cairo.

African countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, Somalia, and Tunisia are members of the Arab Monetary Fund. The main objectives of the AMF in the foreign exchange sector are to stabilize the exchange rates of the currencies of the participating countries and create conditions for mutual convertibility, eliminate currency restrictions within the organization, create a mechanism for mutual settlements, as well as a single currency.

The most developed form of integration of the CIS countries is the Union State of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. The agreement on its creation was signed in December 1999. When the agreement was signed, the tasks of creating a union state were set while maintaining the national sovereignty of its participating states with the formation of union government bodies and supranational governing bodies. The goals of the union state are the formation of a single economic space, the implementation of a single social policy, carrying out a coordinated foreign and defense policy.

In October 2000, the Treaty establishing the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC), which included Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan, was concluded. The objectives of this community are:

Completion of the free trade regime in full;

Formation of a unified customs tariff and a unified system of non-tariff regulation measures;

Establishment of general rules for trade in goods and services and their access to domestic markets;

Development of a coordinated position of the Community member states on relations with the WTO and other international economic organizations;

Creation of a unified customs regulation system.

The main goal of the community is to create a single economic space.

Since 2009, the Customs Union consisting of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan began to function.

Common interests in developing regional cooperation led to the conclusion of the Central Asian Union between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. Its purpose is to coordinate political and defense policies.

The main obstacles to the economic integration of the CIS countries are fears of limiting their sovereignty, economic difficulties, and the incompleteness of the creation of a new socio-economic system. In general, despite the noted negative trends and difficulties, opportunities to increase the efficiency of mutual economic cooperation between the CIS countries remain.

International economic integration, preferential trade agreements, free trade zone, customs union, common market, economic union.

Security questions

1. What benefits do member countries of integration associations receive?

2. What is the difference between a free trade zone and a customs union?

3. How is the common market characterized?

4. What is meant by economic (monetary) union?

5. What integration groups do you know?

Integration groupings are formed in the process of international economic integration (Table 4.1).
International economic integration is a controlled process of bringing together and merging national economies into a single economic complex, which is based on the economic interests of economic entities and international division labor.
Table 4.1. Forms (stages of maturity) of international economic integration

№ p/p	Form	Characteristic
1	Free Trade Zone	Abolition of customs barriers in mutual trade in goods between participating countries
2	Customs union	The free movement of goods within the group is complemented by a single customs tariff in relation to third countries. Thus, a customs union is a free trade zone plus a single foreign trade tariff
3	Common Market	The abolition of all restrictions on the mutual movement of not only goods and services, but also labor and capital. The common market includes complete liberalization of the exchange of goods, services, capital and labor
4	More economical skiy and monetary union	Includes all of the above forms of integration, complemented by the implementation by participating states of a single economic and financial policy, the creation of a system of interstate regulation of socio-economic processes, the transition to a single currency

The main integration groups in the world and the prerequisites for their formation and successful functioning are presented in Fig. 4.1 and in table. 4.2.

Rice. 4.1. Prerequisites for the formation and successful functioning of integration associations

Table 4.2. Main integration groups in the world

1	2	3
EFTA, 1960	Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland	European Free Trade Association. Together with EU countries, it forms the European Economic Area
European Economic Area (EEA), 1994	EU and EFTA countries excluding Switzerland	The association provides for the free movement of goods, services, capital and labor between the participating countries
CEFTA (CEFTA), 1992	Until 2004 - Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic. Currently: Macedonia (since 2006), Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro	Free trade zone in Central Europe. In 2004, five members left CEFTA in connection with joining the EU. In 2007, Bulgaria and Romania left CEFTA. Participation in CEFTA is seen as a preliminary stage of accession to the EU
CIS, 1991	Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine	Commonwealth of Independent States Free trade zone (insufficiently formalized)
NAFTA, 1994	Canada, Mexico, USA	North American Free Trade Agreement
APEC, 1989	Australia, Brunei, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Canada, China, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Singapore, USA, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, Chile, South Korea, Japan	Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Free Trade Zone (in its infancy)
ASEAN, 1967	Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines	Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Basis - free trade area (AFTA), investment zone and industrial cooperation zone

1	2	3
SAARC, 1985	Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan	Association for Regional Cooperation in South Asia
GCC, 1981	Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Saudi Arabia	Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf. Among the Gulf states, Iran and Iraq are not participating. Customs union
PAFTA, 1998	Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, Tunisia	Pan-Arab Free Trade Area
MERCOSUR, 1991	Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay1	Southern Cone Common Market; achieved form of integration - customs union
Andean group (Andean community), 1969	Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador	Customs union. Since 2004, Mercosur and the Andean Group have been negotiating the creation of a new association, Unasur (Union de Naciones Suramericanas, a union of South American states)
CAOR, 1961	Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador	Central American Common Market. Customs Union - an achieved form of integration
LAI, 1980	Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, Ecuador	Latin American Integration Association; free trade zone - achieved form of integration
CARICOM, 1973	Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, Haiti, Grenada, Dominica, Montserrat, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica	Caribbean Community and Caribbean Common Market. Customs Union - an achieved form of integration

1 Since July 2006, the procedure for Venezuela to join MERCOSUR has begun.

1	2	3
ECOWAS, 1975	Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo	Economic Community of West African States. Customs Union - an achieved form of integration
COMESA, 1994	Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Libya, Mauritius, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Eritrea, Ethiopia	Common Market of Eastern and South Africa. Free trade zone - an achieved form of integration
SADC, 1992	Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Seychelles, Tanzania, South Africa	South African Development Community. Free trade zone - an achieved form of integration
ECOCAS (CEMAC), 1994	Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea	Economic Community of Central African Countries. The union uses a single currency - the CFA franc.
SPARTEKA (SPARTECA), 1981	Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Independent State of Samoa, Niue, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Fiji	South Pacific Agreement on Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation. Free trade zone - an achieved form of integration

/>
Source: The main source of information about integration groups is electronic publication World trade organization“List of Regional Integration Agreements”, as well as official websites of integration associations: http://www.apec.org - official website of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC); http://www.aseansec.org - official website of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); http://www.caricom.org - official website of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); http://europa.eu - official website of the European Union (EU); http://www.saarc-sec.org - official website of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC); http://www.sadc.int - official website of the South African Development Community (SADC).

The types of integration groupings are discussed in Table 4.3.
Table 4.3. Types of integration groups

Types of integration groups	Examples
1. Integration groupings between developed countries	EU27, EFTA, European Economic Area (EEA)
2. Integration groupings between developing countries	ASEAN, SAARC, MERCO-SUR, ECOWAS
3. Integration groupings between countries with economies in transition	CIS, CEFTA
4. Integration groupings between countries located on different levels socio-economic development	APEC, SPARTEKA, NAFTA

Regional integration in its development can be traced both in countries that initially followed the path of market economics, and in developing countries and countries with administrative regulation of the economy. An example of a regional integration association of countries that has had the most significant period of its existence today is the European Union (EU). As an organization in the development of which, in fact, all the main forms of integration were represented, the EU is of unconditional interest for considering the mechanisms of regional integration.

To gain a new understanding of the unity of their continent, Europeans needed to survive two world wars. In 1946, Winston Churchill, who headed the British government during the war years, declared: “Europe must turn into a kind of United States.”

The preparatory stage of Western European integration was the five-year period 1945–1950. In 1948, the Organization of European Economic Cooperation, subsequently the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, was created to regulate aid coming from the United States under the Marshall Plan. In the same year, the Benelux customs union was established, which included Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The Union became a kind of model that demonstrated possible forms of economic cooperation in the economic sphere. In 1949 the Council of Europe was founded.

Further development of the integration process was initiated by France, which proposed transferring the leadership of coal mining and ferrous metallurgy in France and Germany to a supranational body. The plan to create a European coal and steel community was unveiled in 1950, it provided for the establishment of international control over key industries military industry through the conclusion of an agreement binding on its participants. Thus, a sharp buildup of armaments in preparation for war became impossible.

Realizing the importance of this plan, Italy and the Benelux countries expressed their desire to join it. So, the history of the European Union began in 1951, when the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was created, which included France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Six years later (March 25, 1957), in Rome, the same countries signed agreements on the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). The Treaty of Rome (1957) laid the constitutional foundations of the European Union, becoming the foundation for the creation of a six-country free trade area. By the end of the 60s, a customs union was created: customs duties were abolished and quantitative restrictions in mutual trade were lifted, and a single customs tariff was introduced in relation to third countries. A unified foreign trade policy began to be implemented. The EEC began, on its own behalf, to negotiate and conclude agreements on issues of trade, economic, industrial, scientific and technical cooperation. For example, in the early 60s, a unified agricultural policy was formed, aimed at creating preferential conditions for the activities of local farmers. The EEC countries began to pursue joint regional policies aimed at accelerating the development of backward and depressed areas. The beginning of integration in the monetary and financial sphere dates back to this stage: in 1972, joint floating of the currencies of some EU member countries was introduced within certain limits (“currency snake”).

Since March 1979, the European Monetary System began to operate, uniting the countries of the EEC and aimed at reducing exchange rate fluctuations and interconnecting the rates of national currencies, maintaining currency stability and limiting the role of the US dollar in the international payments of the Community countries. A special monetary unit of account, the ECU, has been established and operates within the framework of this system. The ecu was designed to perform four main functions: to become a link in the exchange rate setting mechanism in the foreign exchange market; an indicator of fluctuations in the exchange rates of EU countries relative to each other; a unit of payment for credit operations or interventions in the foreign exchange market, as well as a means of settling the country’s external debt.

In 1987, the Single European Act (SEA) adopted by the EEC member countries came into force. Tasks were set for the joint development of scientific and technological research. In accordance with the EEA, by the end of 1992 the process of creating a single internal market was to be completed, i.e. all obstacles to the free movement of citizens of these states, goods, services and capital on the territory of these countries have been removed.

In February 1992, the Agreement on the European Union was signed in Maastricht, which, after a series of referendums on its ratification in the participating countries, came into force on November 1, 1993. The European Economic Community, in accordance with the Maastricht Agreement, was renamed the European Community (EC) . This agreement also provided for the gradual transformation of the EU into an economic, monetary and political union.

Thus, by the end of 1992, the construction of the single European internal market was completed. The transition to a single internal market made it possible already in 1996 to create from 200 to 900 thousand new jobs in Western Europe, raise the level of average per capita income by 1.1 - 1.5%, reduce inflation by 1 - 1.5%, increase industrial exports by 20–30%, reduce the gap in domestic prices in different countries EU from 22.5% to 19.6%, attract 44% of all international capital exports to the EU (versus 28% in 1992).

EU integration differs from other integration unions not only in the clearly defined stages of development (from a free trade area through a customs union, a single internal market to an economic and monetary union), but also in the presence of unique supranational EU institutions. The forward movement of EU integration is ensured by the work of a system of political, legal, administrative, judicial and financial institutions. This system represents a synthesis of intergovernmental and supranational regulation.

The main governing bodies of the EU are the Council of Ministers of the EU, the EU Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Court.

Of great importance for the development of the EU is the fact that a single legal space has been formed there, i.e. EU legal documents are an integral part of the national law of the member countries and have prevailing force in the event of disagreements with national law. The EU Commission ensures that adopted national regulations do not contradict EU law. The system of regulation and control within the EU is carried out on the basis of relevant statutes, treaties and agreements within the Union on a common customs and currency policy, common legislation within the European Parliament and other principles of integrated international cooperation.

Since 1993, the Agreement between the EU and EFTA on a single European economic area has been in force, which provides for the free movement of goods, services, labor and capital. Thus, the world's largest common market was formed, uniting 19 European countries.

The most striking feature of the modern development of the European Union is the formation of a single monetary system based on a single euro currency.

The following “pass criteria” for participation in the euro area were established:

The state budget deficit is no more than 3% of GDP. Public debt is no more than 60% of GDP. Long-term lending rates should not exceed 2 percentage points compared to the average for the three EU countries with the most stable prices. Inflation by no more than 1.5 percentage points. above the average for the three EU countries with the most stable prices. Absence of exchange rate fluctuations of the national currency beyond the limits permitted by the European Monetary System over the past two years. Having gone through a long historical path of economic cooperation, the countries of Western Europe have reached a new milestone. They united in the highest form of joint economic cooperation - integrating their economies and market infrastructures into the European Union.

Today, the European Union accounts for approximately 20% of world GDP (including the share of 11 member countries of the monetary union - 15.5%), more than 40% of world trade. On the one hand, the European Union has entered a qualitatively new stage of development, expanding its functions. After the decision to create a common currency (the euro) is made, issues of common tax policy become increasingly important. The European Union's budget has already reached approximately $100 billion. At the same time, the strengthening of the financial and economic role of the EU is having an increasingly serious impact on political sphere. EU countries set themselves the task of pursuing a common foreign and defense policy. For the first time, under the auspices of the European Union, a multinational military structure. In fact, the EU is acquiring the features of not only an economic, but also a military-political alliance.

The coming years will see the biggest expansion of the EU in its history. The first group of new members will include 6 countries - Estonia, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Cyprus. At the same time, it was announced that negotiations had begun with the second group of countries, which included Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Malta. The European Union, on the threshold of the accession of new members, is again faced with a dilemma: expansion or deepening. These polar trends are developing simultaneously, and each has its own explanation: expansion reflects the process of world globalization, deepening determines the internal stability of the EU. Thus, both are inseparable elements of the European integration process.

The political-economic, as well as organizational aspects of creating an economic and monetary union are of undoubted interest for the Union State of Russia and Belarus, primarily from the point of view of the possibilities of using the experience gained in the European Union in solving emerging problems in the process of a phased transition to a single currency.

Since the mid-80s, the Asia-Pacific region (APR) has seen a significant intensification of internal flows of goods, capital and financial assistance. As a result of these processes, the Asia-Pacific Council was created in 1989 economic community(APEC), which includes the following countries: Canada, USA, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong Province, Chile, Japan, Russia, Vietnam and Peru. APEC today is the fastest growing region in the world. It accounts for about 45% of the population, 55% of global GDP, 42% of electricity consumption and over 55% of global investment. In the APEC list of the 500 largest corporations in the world, 342 companies are represented (including 222 from the USA and 71 from Japan). At the beginning of the 21st century. The share of the Asia-Pacific region in the global economic system (even without taking into account the countries of North America) will increase even more. During the existence of APEC, average customs tariffs of the community countries decreased from 15 to 9%. The share of American exports in this region increased to 70%, China - 74%, Japan - 71%. APEC sets the task of gradually creating a free trade and investment zone. By 2010 – for developed countries of the region, by 2020 – for developing countries.

Russia was accepted as a member of the organization in 1997. Without participation in APEC, Russia would be isolated from this most dynamic region of the world. Moreover, Russia's control over Siberia could also be at risk. Currently, APEC countries account for 10% of Russian foreign trade, and excluding the USA and Canada - 5%.

North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA). The agreement between the United States and Canada establishing the North American Free Trade Association was signed in 1988, and Mexico joined in 1992. Since 1994 it officially came into force. Today NAFTA represents the largest regional free trade area, with 393 million people. produce a total GNP worth 8.6 trillion. Doll.

If we analyze the essence of the main provisions of the Agreement and compare it with the fundamental premises of the European Union documents, then the main thing is obvious - not only customs barriers are dismantled. Within the framework of NAFTA, tariff barriers are being gradually eliminated, most other restrictions on exports and imports are lifted (except for a certain range of goods - agricultural products, textiles and some others). Conditions are being created for the free movement of not only goods, but also services, capital, and professionally trained labor. Approaches have been developed to provide national regimes for foreign direct investment. The parties agreed on the necessary measures to protect intellectual property, harmonize technical standards, sanitary and phytosanitary standards. The document contains the obligations of the parties regarding the creation of a mechanism for resolving disputes (anti-dumping, subsidies, etc.), which will inevitably accompany initial period formation of the organization. It should be noted that the Agreement does not provide for the solution of problems related to the social sphere, such as unemployment, education, culture, etc. Unlike Western Europe, North American integration is still developing in the absence of supranational regulatory institutions.

The participation of each NAFTA member country in the Agreement has its own economically justified reasons.

Yes, according to American experts, an increase in exports will lead to an increase in the number of jobs and, by the way, these calculations have already come true, despite a relatively short period of time. NAFTA provided an opportunity for the United States to increase the number of jobs by increasing exports to Mexico, as well as reduce production costs and increase the competitiveness of some American industries by moving labor-intensive, material-intensive and environmentally expensive production from the United States to Mexico. It is expected that all three American auto giants Ford, Chrysler and General Motors, thanks to integration within the community, will be able to expand production and sales in the coming years and increase their profits by 4–10%. Mexican oil wells provide the United States with a supply of oil with low transportation costs. US exports to Mexico are growing 3 times faster than to other countries in the world.

The Canadian economy is closely linked to the American one. Suffice it to say that the US share in Canada’s foreign trade turnover is approximately 70% and, conversely, Canada’s share is 20%. In the foreign trade turnover of the United States, this is a very high figure, considering that in the most integrated grouping, the European Union, Germany’s share in France’s foreign trade turnover is less than 20%, and France’s share in Germany’s foreign trade turnover, respectively, is above 10%. Only at the end of the 1980s did Canada come to the conclusion about the onset of a relatively favorable conditions to deepen integration processes with the United States, bearing in mind the fact that the efficiency of Canadian firms began to approach that of American ones. NAFTA has significantly increased Canada's attractiveness to foreign investors while providing Canadians with greater opportunities to invest in the economies of treaty partners. Total foreign direct investment in Canada increased by 8.7% in 1994, 9.3% in 1995, and 7.4% ($180 billion) in 1996. Investment in financial services, transport and automotive equipment, chemical industry, energy, communications, food industry.

The United States continues to be both the largest foreign investor in Canada and the largest recipient of direct investment from Canada, accounting for more than half of all outbound Canadian investment.

The creation of NAFTA led to more significant changes in capital flows between Canada and Mexico. Canadian investment in Mexico has increased significantly, concentrating in areas such as mining, banking and telecommunications, while Mexican investment in Canada, although consistent, still lags significantly in size.

Mexico pins great hopes on NAFTA and expects, by sharply accelerating the pace and quality of economic growth, to approach the level of socio-economic development of industrialized countries in 10–15 years. A system of liberalization measures has been introduced financial sector, an intensive influx of foreign investment began. The policy pursued in Mexico to attract foreign investment has made it possible to receive more than $12 billion annually in the form of foreign direct investment; according to preliminary data, in 2001 the total volume of accumulated direct investment will exceed $100 billion, which will be about 65% of the Canadian level. This is the best result among developing countries.

At present, there is already a clear desire of a number of South American countries to join this economic grouping. At a meeting of leaders of 34 countries of the Western Hemisphere in Miami in 1994, a decision was made to create a free trade area of the Americas (TAFTA) by 2005. In 1997, US exports to Latin America and the Caribbean grew 3 times faster (17%) than to other regions of the world (5.6%). Considering high rates development of Latin American countries in recent years, it can be assumed that at the beginning of the 21st century. The world's largest economic bloc will emerge in the Western Hemisphere, surpassing the EU in scale.

MERCOSUR - Common Market of the Southern Cone, created in 1991 by the countries of South America. This organization includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay. The population of the four countries is 200 million people. The total GDP exceeds $1 billion. Institutional structures and supranational bodies have been created: the Common Market Council, the Common Market Group and the Arbitration Court.

End of the 20th century marked the beginning of intensive interaction between East Asian countries according to the 7 + 3 formula (ASEAN countries, as well as China, Japan and South Korea). These countries account for 32% of the world population, 19% of world GDP, 25% of exports and 18% of imports, as well as 15% of the influx of foreign direct investment.

The states formed on the territory of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics do not remain aloof from the integration processes. We will consider the mechanisms and specifics of the development of integration processes in the post-Soviet space below.

The main integration groups in the modern world, their place in the international economy. Abstract integration groups

Related articles

Read also