The combination of profound technological change and theemergence of powerful competitors such as China and the other briccountries has led to dramatic shifts in competitiveness and a tendencyfor production to be structured around global value chains. Against thisbackground, traditional protectionist threats have reappeared and othershave arisen in connection with new security requirements, private-sectorquality standards, good practices and climate change. These issues areintegral to the new competitive environment but could turn into protectionistbarriers in the absence of the right multilateral approach. In view of thisand of the current global crisis, the present paper offers some policyproposals oriented towards the adoption of an internationalization strategyin the region's countries, emphasizing the importance of innovation and onissues that can be addressed from a regional cooperation standpoint.