A paradiplomacia comercial no Estado da Paraíba: 1999 a 2003

Abstract

Considering as real the process of globalization, which gains strength nowadays, as well as the regionalization process and foreign policy domestication, we can observe, parallel to this, the increasing participation of subnational governments. Thus, it is necessary a careful study of this tendency in the discipline of International Relations. The aim of the paper is to verify the commercial paradiplomacy activities of the state of Paraíba and its foreign trade behaviour, in the period from 1999 to 2013, concluding about possible impacts of international actions on its foreign trade. The main concept utilised has its bases in the concepts of commercial paradiplomacy of Maia (2012) and paradiplomacy of trade of Paquin (apud RIBEIRO, 2008). As a whole, we can understand as commercial paradiplomacy in this paper, the international actions of subnational governments in order to promote exports and/or development of any particular productive segment. The main conclusion is that Paraíba international actions necessitate long-term strategic plans and mechanisms to verify its results; that would be necessary for the recovery of the state’s trade balance, which has a trade deficit since 2006.