The leaders of Canada, Mexico, and the United States met August 9 and 10 for the first North American Leader’s Summit since President Barack Obama took office. Trade, climate change, migration, and security dominated talks and leaders voiced their commitment to a resolution to the Honduran crisis.

A free trade deal that adds Peru to Canada's Latin American trade network came into effect August 1. The agreement eliminates tariffs on more than 95 percent of goods and eases Canadian access to several sectors of Peru’s economy.

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.

A Canadia-Colombia free trade deal awaits parliamentary approval in Ottawa. Canadian Senator Pamela Wallin writes that, despite resistance among some members of Parliament, "Colombia needs a helping hand—not a cold shoulder."

Canada’s Minister of the Environment Jim Prentice delivered remarks emphasizing the twin needs of reaching a multilateral climate change agreement while keeping an eye to warding off protectionism. In particular, he warned against “trade protectionism in the name of environmental protectionism.”

"[W]hen it comes to ways to improve the global financial sector—and ultimately the global economy—Canada offers a model that’s worth consideration," writes Scotiabank's President and CEO Richard E. Waugh.

Leaders from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico will deliver messages against protectionism and in support of financial reforms during the April 2 summit in London. An AS/COA News Analysis examines what proposals each country brings to the G20 summit.