The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has launched a full-text database that provides “information and documentation on the entire trade disputes process, from initial filing to final enactment”. 

Known as IDATD, Integrated Database of Trade Disputes for Latin America and the Caribbean, this “database consolidates into a single site information on trade agreements and disputes, both ongoing and resolved, within the World Trade Organization (WTO), the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Andean Community of Nations (CAN), the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), the Central American Common Market, and the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)”.

The database is searchable by trade system, complainant and respondent countries, year, number and object of the dispute, as well as by subject.  The website includes background information, such as how dispute mechanisms operate, and links to legal texts of the dispute settlement systems established under trade agreements.

The database is available in English (http://idatd.eclac.cl) and Spanish (http://badicc.eclac.cl).

There’s so many different trade agreements in Latin America, that it’s all a huge mish-mash to me.

The latest is the USA-Colombia agreement, which many would argue is entirely political in nature, and simply a means of counterbalancing Chavez’s (Venezuela) influence.

Well to assume its not political in nature would be naive at best...of course, everything is motivated by money and agreements, including the ECLAC talks. Friend from Latin America I met on this mmorpg community site told me nothing every truly changes over there...but didn’t talk to him long about it.

Could you please explain me the meaning of ‘DOM’

Mike: what your friend told your is really ignorant.