Latin America Gets Needed Focus in State of the Union
The president spoke at least three times this evening during his State of the Union on issues of importance to the Western Hemisphere: immigration, trade and his desire to travel to Latin America in March. He was strong on immigration, saying he is willing to work with anyone to address immigration issues comprehensively as a … Read more
Energy: Central America’s Power Future
A plan to connect the power grids of six Central American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama) is finally about to become reality. First proposed in 1987, the Sistema de Interconexión Eléctrica de los Países de América Central (SIEPAC) is scheduled to become fully operational in Spring 2011. For Central America … Read more
Our pragmatic approach marks a clean break from ideologically driven, outmoded definitions of foreign policy.
The Americas are our shared home. To build a stronger and more resilient neighborhood, the Obama administration is promoting a safe, stable, prosperous, and democratic hemisphere where the United States and our partners share responsibility on key regional and global issues. In keeping with the President’s National Security Strategy, we are leveraging our deep ties … Read more
Strength in Numbers
The expansion of free-trade agreements has created a global market of goods and services that has led to better resource distribution. Capital markets seem to be following suit, but in emerging economies the lack of depth remains a challenge. The limited number of securities, the lack of liquidity and the slow emergence of derivatives markets … Read more
Ask the Experts: Market Access and Free Trade
Ron Kirk Answers: Trade liberalization has moved hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and into the global middle class. If countries make serious commitments to open up their markets and play by the rules, trade will continue to support more jobs for working families in the United States and around the world. Even … Read more
Wake Up, Washington!
In December 3, 2009, President Barack Obama hosted a special White House summit on jobs. With the United States deep in the throes of the most severe economic downturn since the 1930s, and with unemployment hovering around 10 percent, the administration was determined to show an anxious public its commitment to finding ways to get … Read more
Weekly Roundup from Across the Americas
A Year after the Quake, Good Manufacturing News for Haiti In Haiti, Sae-A Trading Company, a South Korean clothing-manufacturing giant, opened for business this week. Its factory will employ 20,000 Haitians once fully operational. On the same day, the historic downtown Port-au-Prince Iron Market reopened after Caribbean mobile phone carrier Digicel paid to have it … Read more
Free Trade and Market Access
Articles: Wake Up, Washington! by Eric Farnsworth While Washington sleeps, the U.S. is losing the battle for Latin America’s markets. Full text available. Breaking the Cycle by Dóra Beszterczey and Shannon O’Neil The best crime-fighting strategy? Improve economic opportunities for all. Full text available. Ask the Experts: Market Access and Free Trade by Ron Kirk, … Read more
Weekly Roundup from Across the Americas
Dear Readers: Weekly Roundup will take a winter break. Look for the next issue on January 12, 2011. Happy holidays! Chávez in Charge The Venezuelan National Assembly granted to President Hugo Chávez on December 16 the power to rule by decree for the next 18 months, in what El Tiempo calls legislators’ “fourth instance in … Read more
Weekly Roundup from Across the Americas
From the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. AS/COA Online’s news brief examines the major—as well as some of the overlooked—events and stories occurring across the Americas. Check back every Wednesday for the weekly roundup. Sign up to receive the Weekly Roundup via email. Come Again: Recount or Revote in Haiti? With concerns running high about … Read more
Weekly Roundup from Across the Americas
From the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. AS/COA Online’s news brief examines the major—as well as some of the overlooked—events and stories occurring across the Americas. Check back every Wednesday for the weekly roundup. Sign up to receive the Weekly Roundup via email. Waiting for the WikiLeaks Shoe to Drop in Latin America WikiLeaks continues … Read more
Poverty in Latin America Decreases
According to the Social Panorama of Latin America 2010 report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) released today, poverty in Latin America has fallen in 2010 to levels not seen since 2008. This is a result of a strong economic recovery fueled by higher commodity prices. Alicia Barcena, … Read more
Weekly Roundup from Across the Americas
From the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. AS/COA Online’s news brief examines the major—as well as some of the overlooked—events and stories occurring across the Americas. Check back every Wednesday for the weekly roundup. Sign up to receive the Weekly Roundup via email. Cholera Outbreak Worsens in Haiti In the wake of tropical storm Tomás, … Read more
Now What? Elections and the Western Hemisphere
Tuesday’s election results were not unexpected. The question now is what will they mean for U.S. policy in the Western Hemisphere. The outlines are already clear: expect a sharper tone across the board of Congressional oversight and initiative toward the Administration in trying to impact policy. Here are a few predictions for regional policy based … Read more
Shakira talks to AQ about building global support for early childhood education.
Colombian singer Shakira Mebarak brings her advocacy for early childhood development to the stage and to government leaders in Latin America and around the world. Americas Quarterly: Since 2005, your philanthropic work has brought global attention to education and social responsibility through América Latina en Acción Solidaria (ALAS) and expansion of the Fundación Pies Descalzos (Barefoot … Read more
