Brazil's Defense Minister Nelson Jobim traveled to Washington to sign a bilateral military agreement with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on April 12. The accord marks the frst military pact between the two countries since 1977. Gates travels this week to Peru, Colombia, and Barbados.

Data reconfirms the worrisome trend that more must be done to facilitate Hispanics’ access to financial services, writes Adrián Franco, executive director of Qualitas of Life.

A dispute over U.S. cotton subsidies took another turn this week when Brazil announced plans to suspend intellectual property rights on some U.S. products. That and retaliatory tariff measures are slated to take effect in April, though both sides hold hopes for negotiations.

An AS/COA program with Portland’s mayor and the Oregon Speaker of the House addressed how sectors can collaborate to promote Latino workforce development.

Membership in the Trans-Pacific Partnership could reengage Washington at a time when Asia and Latin America are signing new trade pacts.

The forms get sent out in March, but the U.S. Census Bureau already launched an awareness campaign for the 2010 survey. With federal funding and political clout at stake in the tally, Hispanic leaders urge Latinos—historically undercounted—to participate.

President Obama needs to summon the political courage to push through free trade.