Former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso shares nine tips for policymakers facing the financial crisis.

COA’s Director of Energy Policy Nicole Spencer says building a hemispheric energy partnership would be “smart politics” for the Obama administration. Cooperation on energy and climate change issues now could pave the way for enhanced regional relations.

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.

As violence related to organized crime takes its toll in Mexico, the debate deepens over hemispheric drug policy. Proposals on the table range from stepped-up security cooperation to drug decriminalization. Meanwhile, Washington announced widespread arrests of suspects linked to Mexican cartels.

"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.

Brazil is trying to catch up on IT on its own terms.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's government has pledged billions to battle the threat of recession and bolster Petrobras. Meanwhile, the Obama administration signals interest in strengthening relations with South America’s largest economy.