Contributions from Carin Zissis
On January 8, President Michele Bachelet reshuffled her cabinet for the third time during her tenure in office. The latest change draws experienced appointees into the fold and seeks to heal rifts in the governing coalition.
Caracas began the year by knocking zeros off its currency, but experts say the move won’t keep inflation in check. A cabinet shuffle and the currency change came a month after voters rejected an overhaul of the constitution.
January 1 marked an end to all tariffs on agricultural goods—including corn and sugar—traded between the U.S. and Mexico. But NAFTA could hit roadblocks in 2008: Mexican truckers face barriers to accessing U.S. roads and presidential campaigns have taken protectionist tones.