Summary: Views of the U.S. Elections from the Western Hemisphere

Speakers:

• Eric Farnsworth, Vice President, Council of the Americas (moderator)
• Luiza Savage, Washington Bureau Chief, Maclean's Magazine, Canada
• William Waack, International Politics Journalist and Anchor of Jornal da Globo, Rede Globo, Brazil

Summary

For regional perspectives on the U.S. elections, Council of the Americas hosted Luiza Savage, Washington bureau chief for Canada's weekly news publication Macleans Magazine, and William Waack, international correspondent of Brazil's Globo News Network and anchor of the weekly international news program Jornal da Globo. The panel shed light on the U.S. election as seen from Brazil and Canada, noting ongoing bilateral concerns with the Unites States and commenting on how changes in Washington could shape hemispheric relations.

Obama’s Reelection: Views from Canada and Brazil

Waack noted that President Barack Obama was the Brazilian public’s preferred candidate, and was also perceived as more welcoming toward immigrants. However, Waack believes the outcome of the United States’ elections will have little impact on business and investments in Brazil, which are influenced largely by domestic policy. He anticipated little change in terms of the bilateral relationship, saying the current Brazilian administration has not fully articulated the country's interests with the United States. Government officials likely felt relief that Obama won, Waack said, but this does not necessarily mean any policy changes are on the way.

Savage said Canadians viewed the election in three ways: as “great theater,” as a “classroom on politics,” and as a case study on political communication. Canada’s stake in the U.S. elections stems largely from bilateral commerce, since trade with the United States accounts for about one-fifth of Canadian jobs. Canada is also a key partner in increasing industrial competitiveness and increasing integrated manufacturing. Savage noted that since Canada recently joined the Trans-Pacific Partnership—a proposed free trade area—the United States and Canada have more opportunities for economic cooperation.

In addition, the Keystone XL pipeline directed unprecedented political attention toward Canada during this election cycle. The issue created frustration among some Canadians who believed the United States was falling short on this key piece of cross-border energy infrastructure as the Obama administration shelved the project until after the election.

Following Obama’s reelection, Canadians hope for continued movement on border management, an area the Obama administration has worked to change through the Beyond the Border initiative. This program coordinates the border policy agenda from the White House, which is uniquely positioned to manage the various departments which have jurisdiction over border security, customs, and infrastructure.

U.S. Policy toward the Hemisphere

Both speakers lamented the fact that the Western Hemisphere has not been a priority for the Obama administration’s over the past four years, which they believe is due in part to the United States’ focus on Asia and the continuing effects of the 2008 financial crisis.

In the case of Brazil’s relationship with the United States, Waack said the lack of bilateral cooperation stems mostly from the Brazilian side, in large part due to the current administration’s formulation of its foreign policy. He sees Brazil’s domestic politics as a hurdle for advances in closer ties to the United States. Savage also noted that Canada faced difficulties in attracting the attention of U.S. administrations since 2000, with approaches shifting from trilateral summits among NAFTA partners to Canada’s present unilateral approach. Waack and Savage agreed that Brazilians’ and Canadians’ increasing economic self-confidence is coupled with a positive perception of the United States and Obama.