The following abbreviations are used in the entries:

AU

African Union, formerly Organization of African Unity (OAU)

CARICOM

Caribbean Community

EC

European Communities

EU

European Union

GNP

Gross National Product

GDP

Gross Domestic Product

IMF

International Monetary Fund

MERCOSUR

Southern Cone Common Market

NAFTA

North American Free Trade Agreement

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

UK

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

UN

United Nations US United States of America

USSR

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics