Writing in Financial Times, AS/COA Chairman William R. Rhodes calls for countries to avoid protectionist measures at the upcoming Group of Eight summit and to back up the pro-trade rhetoric of the recent G20 meeting with concrete action.

In her Introductory remarks at the annual Santiago de Chile Conference, AS/COA's Susan Segal said that in the face of the global economic downturn, Chile's successes provide a strong example of the importance of free trade. (en espanol)

Speaking at the 2009 Latin American Cities Conference in Santiago, Canadian Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty emphasized the importance of inter-American cooperation for economic recovery and said that the success of Ottowa's free trade agreement with Chile demonstrates Canada's increasing ties with the region.

Chilean Minister of Finance Andrés Velasco, Canadian Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty, and World Bank President Robert Zoellick joined AS/COA's Santiago conference. Topics included the global economic downturn in Latin America, Chile's response, and the role that hemispheric integration and investment will play in recovery.

Luis Pastor of the Latino Community Credit Union in North Carolina talked with AS/COA's Hispanic Integration Initiative about financial literacy programs geared toward immigrants.

In the thirteenth AS/COA Bogota Conference, President Álvaro Uribe talked about his government's efforts to build confidence in the face of global economic challenges. Panelists also offered insight into financial and energy issues.

In opening remarks at the annual São Paulo Conference, AS/COA's Susan Segal said Brazil has been at the forefront of recovery from the global economic downturn.