The OAS' recent decision to allow Cuba to reenter its ranks was largely a symbolic vote, which detracted attention from the deeper hemispheric problems of poverty, inequality, and security.

With trade a hard sell in Washington these days, it's time for the White House to actively support a free trade agreement with Panama, argues COA's Eric Farnsworth in Poder. The election of businessman Ricardo Martinelli as Panama's new president demonstrates the country's commitment to global commerce as a means to economic growth.

Earlier this week, Colombian lawmakers approved a controversial referendum bill that paves the way for President Álvaro Uribe to seek a third consecutive term in office. While Uribe has not said whether he intends to run again, he has certainly done nothing to discourage the idea.

In this article for El Diario/La Prensa, AS/COA's Christopher Sabatini argues that, in the wake of the recent Summit of the Americas, concrete steps must be taken to capitalize on the good will created by the new administration’s fresh approach to its Latin neighbors. (en español | in English)

Lawyer Daniel M. Price argues that eliminating tariffs on clean technology products offers a way to kill two birds with one stone, combining a push against trade protectionism with a commitment to green, sustainable energy. COA's Trade Advisory Group made a similar recommendation in their January 2009 report on the hemispheric growth agenda.

"The calculus is simple: if we can’t get it right with Mexico, our closest Latin neighbor both literally and figuratively, we’ll have trouble with the rest of our hemispheric agenda," writes COA's Eric Farnsworth in an article for Poder.

"The Summit of the Americas provides a forum for Obama to shift focus from energy independence to a more practical and even a more desirable goal—energy interdependence," writes Lisa Viscidi in an op-ed for The Houston Chronicle. The original version of this article appears in the Spring 2009 issue of Americas Quarterly.