By employing Latin –American strands of dependency theory – complemented by World Systems Theory and a neoliberal view on trade policies – the minutes of the PTPA negotiations are analysed. The...Show moreBy employing Latin –American strands of dependency theory – complemented by World Systems Theory and a neoliberal view on trade policies – the minutes of the PTPA negotiations are analysed. The negotiations were held in 2004 and 2005 between the U.S. and the Andean countries. This resarch focuses on Peru and an attempt is made to assess whether and to what extent the Peruvian government succeeded in balancing the demands of the U.S. government with those of Peruvian civil society and the Peruvian government’s desire to enter into a trade agreement with the U.S.. From examining Peruvian government reports on the agriculture, labour matters and textiles tables it was found that the government at times found its Andean partners to be delaying the negotiations and rather continued bilaterally. Furthermore, evidence was found that the Peruvian government, at least on paper, attempted to represent the interests of the large majority of the Peruvians. To what extent it has succeeded in doing so has been difficult to assess given that the present research is largely based on official government documents. Further research, employing non-governmental Peruvian sources and (official) U.S. documentation on the negotiations, is needed to come to a fuller understanding of the starting positions of both governments and how much each party had given in to the demands of the other.Show less