A São Paulo summit brought together heavyweights to talk about Brazil’s ethanol industry as well as related environmental concerns. Meanwhile, Colombia sees its own ethanol presence grow while the United States remains caught up in debate, tariffs, and subsidies.

With trade a hard sell in Washington these days, it's time for the White House to actively support a free trade agreement with Panama, argues COA's Eric Farnsworth in Poder. The election of businessman Ricardo Martinelli as Panama's new president demonstrates the country's commitment to global commerce as a means to economic growth.

An OAS task force will examine proposals, including one from Washington, which could pave the way for Havana to rejoin the OAS. But the Obama administration has indicated that Cuba must adhere to democratic principles before gaining readmission.

In a historic move, the Obama administration chose Sonia Sotomayor as the first Hispanic nominee for the Supreme Court. Analysts predict she will win confirmation, though the process may not be free of controversy.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg outlined the Obama administration’s new approach to the Americas, which rests on two pillars: democratic governance and inclusive prosperity. As part of this, the United States “has a responsibility to exercise responsible leadership.”

Speaking at COA's 39th Washington Conference, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recognized that democratic elections are now the norm in the Western Hemisphere and argued that the next step is to address social inequality.

Speaking at COA's Washington Conference, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos, and Mexico's Finance Secretary Agustín Carstens joined others in discussing policy issues affecting the hemisphere.