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.

In a statement submitted to the trade policy staff committee, the Council of the Americas expressed its support for the for the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement, arguing that the pact "could become the most promising driver of trade expansion in the hemisphere."

“We’re all in this together, and if we act in a coordinated and thoughtful manner, we’ll be able to get out of it together” writes COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth for Poder magazine. At this time of financial crisis, he suggests revitalizing the trade agenda to boost economies across the Americas.

COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth provided testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, suggesting ways to foment a mutually beneficial agenda in Latin America. He emphasized the importance of resisting investment protectionism and prioritizing U.S. relations with Mexico and Brazil.

"The existing model for expanding trade in the hemisphere—in essence, piecemeal liberalization—has reached a point of diminishing returns," writes COA's Eric Farnsworth in Current History.

With a new Congress sworn in, legislative leaders now have an opportunity to respond to the hemisphere’s most pressing socioeconomic, security, and development priorities. This would be a win for the United States and for the Americas.