North America

Mr. President, welcome to the overwhelming responsibility and the awesome opportunity of leading the world’s richest, most powerful nation at a time of global change and trial. I am offering you advice today from a Canadian perspective—a perspective that I fear you will have received from few of your advisers. Read the full article in the Fall 2008 issue of Americas Quarterly.

On balance, both NAFTA and the pending FTA with Colombia promote job growth in the United States, says former COA President Ambassador Everett Ellis Briggs.

En un artículo de opinión para El Diario, Christopher Sabatini explica por qué América Latina se mantiene en un nivel secundario en los radares de política exterior de los Estados Unidos en este año electoral. También analiza los puntos de vista de los presuntos candidatos presidenciales en torno al comercio regional, Cuba, y la reforma migratoria.

WTO trade talks froze in Geneva, where booming Brazil played a central role, further strengthening its position as global player and setting the stage for a battle over U.S. ethanol tariffs. As Doha flounders, countries such as Chile and Peru step up bilateral agreements to boost international trade ties. 

As the U.S. Navy reactivated its Fourth Fleet to manage operations in Latin American waters last week, U.S. officials responded to concerns from regional leaders about the fleet’s purpose. 

Labor rights have failed to keep up with the free flow of goods and capital. Here's a proposal to protect workers' rights and meet the demands of the U.S. labor market and the global economy. Read the full article in the Summer 2008 issue of Americas Quarterly.

NAFTA was never intended to serve as a mechanism to regulate the flow of labor. And it failed to meet policymakers' promises of creating sufficient jobs in Mexico. Nevertheless, it has established a framework for trilateral discussions on migration. Read the entire article in the Summer 2008 issue of Americas Quarterly.