MERCOSUR in trade policy clusters: challenges and prospects.

The sharp increase in the number of FTAs puts customs unions in an ambiguous situation questioning their effectiveness. In this view, MERCOSUR could attract special attention as it seems to support the intention to revive integration within the block after a long period of stagnation. This paper identifies asymmetries and similarities in the member states’ trade policy and presents a new perspective on the regional integration by means of cluster analysis. The results of the study provide the answer to the question of whether MERCOSUR countries have common trade patterns and can act as a single block in the international trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]