The author provides a detailed description of NAFTA, the FTAA, CAFTA, the Andean FTA and MERCOSUR before analysing the impacts these trade agreements have on regional integration. The author explores how a lack of democracy has affected trade agreements and how trade agreements have had a negative impact on food security, and on accessing essential medicines and services.

The second section of the paper addresses the question of gender and trade. Why should gender be incorporated in trade policies and more importantly, trade agreements? The author provides gender-based country evidence of the effects of trade on job loss, the maquiladora industry, services, agriculture, migration and access to medicines.