Mexico’s former undersecretary for international trade negotiations looks at how free trade can help Latin America to reignite economic growth.

Just when Latin America seemed to have overcome its chronic boom-bust cycles, the implosion on Wall Street raised new worries about instability. Ricardo Hausmann’s article is one in a series of articles in the new issue of Americas Quarterly (released on April 16) that explore what’s next for the region in the wake of the global economic crisis.

AS/COA's annual Mexico City conference featured a keynote speech by Mexican President Felipe Calderón. With economic and security matters ranking high on the U.S.-Mexico agenda, ministers and private sector leaders commented on opportunities for cooperation.

As his country gains global influence, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva brought his warnings against protectionism to the White House. Trade, energy, and hemispheric relations were the topics that dominated the meeting with U.S. leader Barack Obama.

In opening remarks at the annual Latin American Cities conference in Mexico City, AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal stressed that Mexico finds itself better-positioned to fight the global financial crisis and offered insight into the new U.S. administration.

Durante el foro de AS/COA "México: Perspectivas y Oportunidades Económicas en el Nuevo Entorno Mundial," el Secretario de Hacienda y Crédito Público Miguel Messmacher Linartes dió un discurso "cómo estamos viendo la situación global, cómo es que eso está afectando a la economía mexicana, y cómo estamos viendo hacia delante la estrategia de ajuste de la economía."

Ecuador faces harsh economic indicators in 2009. Still, President Rafael Correa commands high approval ratings as the country prepares for April elections.