This white paper presents findings on easing access to labor markets for disadvantaged youth, drawing attention to innovative programs that promote formal employment in Colombia and Peru. Research was carried out by the Americas Society’s Social Inclusion program.

During COA's annual Washington Conference, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Latin American governments to speed up reforms, saying that U.S. President Barack Obama is pushing to get Congress to pass the stalled trade agreements with Colombia and Panama.

Four Latin American countries on the Pacific Rim are banding together to increase regional clout and Asia-Pacific trade. On April 28, the leaders of Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru meet in Lima to ink the Pacific Arc agreement.

The U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement has moved closer to submission to Congress. A new COA update looks at the progress and potential next steps for advancing the bilateral trade pact.

With Colombia's Supreme Court clearing the way for the extradition of alleged drug kingpin Walid Makled, the Santos government faces a difficult choice between sending him to the United States or Venezuela. Makled indicated he has evidence linking top Venezuelan officials drug trafficking.

"Colombian goods already have low-tariff access to the U.S. market. So why not help U.S. exporters by opening up theirs?" write Senators Max Baucus and John Kerry in this op-ed for The Wall Street Journal.

Two House hearings provide a snapshot of the evolving congressional debate on the path to ratify the free-trade accord with Colombia.