At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Hawaii in November 2011, Mexico and Canada expressed interest in participating in negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), joining nine other countries currently negotiating the TPP including the United States, Chile, and Peru. With the participation of Mexico and Canada, TPP negotiations would take on even greater economic weight, while creating added momentum for the Western Hemisphere trade agenda.

COA hosted a discussion of the Western Hemisphere view of the TPP, and how each country can benefit from this emerging free trade pact while securing their own national trade interests.

Speakers, in order of appearance:

• Luis Alberto Moreno, President, Inter-American Development Bank (opening remarks)
• Arturo Fermandois, Ambassador of Chile to the U.S.
• Arturo Sarukhan, Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S.
• Francisco Sánchez, Under Secretary for International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce

Representatives of the private sector and educational institutions discussed the importance of human resource development, student exchanges, and labor reform for improving the competitiveness of Latin America’s labor forces and economies. Panelists talked about the current technological needs of employers and investors, gaps in education and training, mentorship programs in the workplace, the role of student exchange programs and the private sector, and Brazil’s recent Science Beyond Borders program.

Speakers:

• Peter DeShazo, Executive Director of LASPAU
• Sam Fouad, Americas Emerging Markets Leader, Ernst and Young LLP
• Deanna Laird, Global University Hiring Programs Leader, IBM
• Christopher Sabatini, Senior Director for Policy, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (Moderator)

An AS/COA panel discussed the latest developments of the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" immigration legislation. Speakers debated next steps for the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, as well as the potential effects of the legislation.

Speakers:

• Juan Manuel Benítez, Host & Executive Producer, Pura Política, NY1
• Muzaffar Chishti, Director, Migration Policy Institute Office at NYU Law
• Jason Marczak, Director of Policy, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (Moderator)

During his remarks at the 2013 Washington Conference on the Americas, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden gave an overview of U.S. goals for the Western Hemisphere during the second term of U.S. President Barack Obama. “It’s time, the president and I believe, to seek a much deeper engagement within the Western Hemisphere,” he said. “The Western Hemisphere has always mattered to the United States, but I think it matters more today because it has more potential than any time in American history,” he added.