AS/COA’s March 11 Latin American Cities Conference in Mexico City featured President Felipe Calderon, Finance Secretary Agustin Carstens. Panels included Wall Street analysts and senior-level executives, who assessed Mexico's current business climate, economic outlook, and investment opportunities.

As the keynote speaker at AS/COA's annual Latin American Cities Conference in Mexico City, President Felipe Calderón addressed Mexico's economic advantages as well as trade, education, and energy.

The North American Free Trade Agreement as been battered lately with sharp criticisms and calls has been made to withdrawal from it. In an op-ed, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez argues that this would be a disaster, hurting the U.S. economy, its workers, and its communities.

Canadian and Mexican observers pay close attention to the hotly contested race for the White House, particularly as Democrats step up attacks on NAFTA.

Pemex struggles with declining oil production and a push for reform in the Mexican Congress that would allow private investment. Meanwhile, Petrobras is seen as a model for how national oil industries should be run.

During his first U.S. visit in office, Mexican President Felipe Calderón stopped in states with large Mexican populations. The leader urged investment in his country to boost job growth.

While illegal immigration draws attention in U.S. public debate, smuggling of arms into Mexico fails to gain the same notice. As the related death toll rises in Mexico, new U.S.-Mexican cooperation hopes to control the illegal weapons flow.