The pacific alliance main condition to become a member for an observant country is having bilateral, free trade agreements in place with at least half the member countries. From the acceptance date on the observant-candidate country has to meet the set conditions in order to finalize the adhesion process. Past the due date, the Alliance can extend the candidate’s due date or terminate the process. In October 2016, Costa Rica and Panama were promoted to observant-candidate countries; they were both in the process of signing for a full membership but suddenly decided against it. On one hand Panama had trade deals with Colombia, Peru and Chile, and was developing a free-trade agreement with Mexico. Meanwhile, Costa Rica’s ex president Laura Chinchilla signed a protocol to finalize the decision to join in 2014 during the eight summits. Its incorporation has since been postponed. Another country with the potential to become a full member is Canada, but it is still uncertain.

 

Sources

       Ramirez, S. (2013). Regionalism: The Pacific Alliance. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/k7d8j7