Fortalecimiento del mercado común de la UNASUR : propuesta para su reactivación comercial.

Abstract

The present work analyzes the challenges and opportunities of foreign trade in South America between 2011 and 2020, using the UNASUR bloc as a case study. The study arises from the need to understand why a process with high regional potential failed to consolidate as an economic platform, despite the favorable context that existed at its inception. The objectives were set to examine the causes of institutional weakening, identify missed economic opportunities, and propose a technical pathway for the reactivation of an integration scheme. From a qualitative-descriptive approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with integration experts, whose responses were organized and analyzed according to the thematic axes of the work. The findings show that ideological tensions, the fragile institutional design, and the absence of a common economic agenda were central factors in the bloc's stagnation. Moreover, a disconnect between political rhetoric and actual operational capabilities was evident. As a proposal, the "Nodo Sur" model was designed, a technical cooperation platform for infrastructure and trade, with active participation from national agencies. It is concluded that integration in South America remains viable, but it requires a less politicized approach, with greater technical leadership and concrete objectives. The study provides inputs to rethink the future of regional integration from a more pragmatic perspective adapted to South American reality.