Introduction .-- Summary and conclusions .-- I. The international economy and regionalism. A. The international panorama. B. Relations with the United States and Canada .-- II. Bases for open regionalism in Latin America and the Caribbean. A. Grographical proximity, openness and deregulation. B. Integration agreements in Latin America and the Caribbean. C. Growing regional interdependence. D. The contribution of open regionalism to changing production patterns with social equity. -- III. Key principles, mechanisms, instruments and policies.