Representatives from each of the four member countries of the Pacific Alliance share their insights on the future of the trade bloc. AS/COA hosted the panel discussion in partnership with Instituto Cervantes, covering topics ranging from eliminating trade taxes among the countries, to improving infrastructure to boost trade, to the free flow of people in the region. Panelists gave presentations and debated the challenges and opportunities the alliance faces in Latin America and internationally.

• Get a more in-depth look at the bloc via our Pacific Alliance explainer.

Speakers:

• Luis Carlos Villegas, Ambassador of Colombia to the United States
• Harold Forsyth, Ambassador of Peru to the United States
• Sandra Fuentes, Consul General of Mexico in New York
• Mauricio Hurtado, Deputy of Chile of Mission, Embassy of Chile to the United States

Introduction:

• Juan Ramón Martínez Salazar, Consul General of Spain in New York

On March 13, the Council of the Americas and the Bertelsmann Foundation hosted a discussion about the Pacific Alliance with trade experts and the ambassadors from Peru, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica to the U.S. They also spoke about a new Bertelsmann Foundation report, The Pacific Pumas, which highlights advances and opportunities created by the trade bloc.

Speakers:

• Harold W. Forsyth, Ambassador of Peru to the U.S.
• Eduardo Medina Mora, Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S.
• Luis Carlos Villegas, Ambassador of Colombia to the U.S.
• Mauricio Hurtado, Chargé d'Affaires, Embassy of Chile to the U.S.
• Antoni Estevadeordal, Manager, Integration and Trade Sector, Inter-American Development Bank
• Samuel George, Project Manager, Bertelsmann Foundation
• Annette Heuser, Executive Director, Bertelsmann Foundation (moderator)