Senate Republicans ratcheted up pressure for passage of Colombia and Panama trade pacts this week, warning they would potentially block a commerce secretary appointment if the Obama administration does not usher through the deals.

U.S. President Barack Obama heads to Latin America from March 19 to 23, visiting Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador. COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth talks with AS/COA Online about why Obama chose those three countries, the trip’s timing, and the White House's top priorities for the tour.

A white paper released under Americas Society’s Social Inclusion Program looks at private sector efforts to expand health care access for underprivileged groups.

An Americas Society roundtable in Bogota explored ways that governments, the private sector, NGOs, and multilateral institutions can collaborate to expand formal labor market access for disadvantaged Colombian youth.

"This opportunity for bipartisan collaboration is particularly true of the Colombia deal," writes AS/COA's Christopher Sabatini on The Huffington Post, "but only if the president is able to overcome the opposition of one of the most vocal and intense coalitions of anti-free trade groups ever."

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner suggested February 16 that free trade deals with Colombia and Panama should gain approval this year along with the South Korea trade pact. His comments coincide with an uptick in pressure to set timelines on the trade deals.

Colombia and China may partner to build a 137-mile railway linking the Andean country’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The “dry canal” project fuels speculation that Colombia is looking beyond the United States for trade opportunities.