Politics, Business & Culture in the Americas

U.S. Policy

President Donald Trump, left, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, during the tariff announcement on April 2. REACTION: Trump’s Reciprocal Tariffs
REACTION: Trump’s Tariffs and Latin America

The baseline 10% tariff applies to many countries in the Americas, with notable exceptions. 

Brazil

PSD President Gilberto Kassab in Brasília. The Low-Key Power Broker Behind Brazil’s Biggest Party: A crucial figure in the country’s flexible “big center,” Gilberto Kassab pulls the levers of power no matter who’s in office.
Brazil’s Low-Key Operator

Gilberto Kassab is one of the country’s most important behind-the-scenes politicians, worth watching as the 2026 elections draw closer.

Nicaragua

The Stunning Loss Daniel Ortega Never Forgot

Nicaragua’s 1990 election is a tale of a bygone era—and a strongman who eventually got his revenge.

Mexico

Trucks in line to enter the U.S. at the Laredo, Texas port of entry in February. What Cartel FTO Designation May Mean for Mexico: Companies can take steps right now to mitigate the risks.
What Cartel FTO Designation May Mean for Mexico

Companies can take steps right now to mitigate the risks.

Mexico

The Missing Elements in Sheinbaum’s Crime-Fighting Strategy

Mexico’s crackdown on fentanyl trafficking is working, but more is needed to solve the nation’s security crisis.

Brazil

REACTION: Bolsonaro Will Stand Trial

Brazil’s Supreme Court has ruled that former President Jair Bolsonaro will stand trial for attempting a coup. What happens next?

Venezuela

Stopping Venezuela’s Exodus Hinges on Restoring Hope

The nation’s problem is still there, and appeasing Maduro will not stem the flow of migrants, two experts write.

Podcast

AQ Podcast | Mexico: Claudia Sheinbaum’s Moment 

Analyst Viri Ríos on Sheinbaum’s popularity, navigating Trump and her government’s tougher policies on security.

Argentina

A Key Pending Challenge for Milei’s Argentina

After making strong fiscal progress, Argentina’s government still confronts a fragile exchange rate regime as it seeks a new IMF program.

El Salvador

Plaza Bitcoin San Bartolo in Ilopango, El Salvador, Nov. 2024
In El Salvador, Bitcoin’s Retreat Left Valuable Lessons

Making the crypto asset legal tender was a worthy experiment, but financial innovation requires more state capacity and better regulations.

Mexico

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks while signing executive orders on Jan. 20.
REACTION: What’s Next for Sheinbaum’s Tariff Strategy

Amid growing uncertainty, Mexico’s president addressed trade negotiations and plans for the economy in a major speech.

Chile

The Radical Libertarian Reshaping Chile’s Presidential Race

Lawmaker Johannes Kaiser is rising in the polls ahead of November’s presidential election amid rising concerns about crime and immigration.

Podcast

AQ Podcast | How Organized Crime Is Evolving in Latin America: 2025 Edition 

While homicide rates are stable, criminals are getting an influx of cash from cocaine, gold mining and human trafficking.

Latin America

A worker prepares the flags of the Organization of American States (OAS) outside a press conference on May 30, 2008 in Medellin. The 38th regular session of the OAS General Assembly will be held from June 1 to 3 in Medellin, Colombia.
The OAS Is Fragile Ahead of a Key Election

The race to become the next OAS Secretary General reveals the deep divides that could cripple the organization and its pro-democracy mission.

Mexico

US President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 3, 2025. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump Always Wanted Tariffs on Mexico

Mexico’s efforts to appease the White House through cooperation may have been doomed from the start, writes AQ’s editor-in-chief.

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