MONTEVIDEO, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Latin American Integration Association, known by its Spanish acronym ALADI, said Friday that it will carry out a technical study on a Latin America-wide trade agreement.

ALADI will take up the task in conjunction with other regional organizations such as the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

Various regional leaders and experts, including ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Barcena, have expressed their support for this initiative, ALADI said in a statement.

The association said the initiative was driven by the "need to deepen integration, increase intra-regional trade and contribute to the formation of sub-regional and regional value chains."

The idea of a Comprehensive Latin American Economic and Trade Agreement was launched at a meeting of ALADI's committee of representatives on Wednesday.

While greater integration has long been a goal for the region, the changing political and economic landscape in the Americas, particularly Donald Trump's presidency, may have been refueling the interest.