Mutual Recognition and Mutual Trust in Mercosur. An Institutional Analysis

As the objective of many regional integration agreements is the construction of an internal market, could Mercosur achieve and guarantee the elimination of non-tariff trade barriers without resorting to supranational institutions? Considering the difficulties of a traditional intergovernmental approach to harmonizing national rules, this study considers the conditions under which mutual recognition might be a useful instrument to overcome a merely technical negotiation phase in favour of a regional approach that engenders interest in a common culture of good regulation. However, this would also require fostering the involvement of businesses and accentuating mutual trust among companies and governments