Cultural industries policy in regional trade agreements: the cases of NAFTA, the European Union and MERCOSUR

Abstract

This article compares cultural industries policy in three regional trade areas: NAFTA, the EU and the MERCOSUR. Each of these trade regions has uniquely combined liberalization, cooperation and exemption, resulting in different policy outcomes. Three factors are explored to account for these differences: industry profile, domestic communication policies and cultural distance. While in the NAFTA cultural products are treated as commodities, the EU has established a proactive policy for the sector, setting both economic and cultural goals. In the case of MERCOSUR, cultural industries policy is still in blueprint. However, political and economic factors greatly constrain the available policy options. The conclusion offers a comparative perspective on audiovisual policies in the three trade blocs.