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Latest from the region

Road to the USMCA
In 1994 the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) reduced trade barriers between Canada, Mexico, and the United States. For decades the agreement has allowed most goods to cross the borders without encumbrance, and now Mexico and Canada are consistently the United States’ largest trade partners. However, markets evolve, and trade agreements must be updated accordingly.
A year ago, on November 30, President Donald J. Trump, President Enrique Peña Nieto, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, an update to NAFTA with new stipulations concerning intellectual property and the auto, dairy, steel, and aluminum industries. The trade agreement was quickly ratified in Mexico, but has faced significant challenges in the United States with concerns over labor commitments, intellectual property, environmental issues, and agreement enforceability. However, despite the challenges, US congressional approval of the updated free trade agreement appears imminent.
Fri, Oct 18, 2019
Ratified USMCA key to unlocking Mexican growth
The United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) will “clearly be an incredible boost” to the Mexican economy at a time when global trade uncertainty threatens to dampen growth prospects around the world, Mexican Secretary of Finance Arturo Herrera said at the Atlantic Council on October 18.
Mon, Jul 15, 2019
USMCA’s road to passage is bumpy, but its promised stability is sorely needed
A completed USMCA would provide more important certainty.
New Atlanticist by
Thu, Oct 5, 2017
What if NAFTA Ended? The Imperative of a Successful Renegotiations
In the midst of NAFTA renegotiations, the United States, Canada, and Mexico are discussing changes that could impact millions of jobs, investments, and North America’s stance in the global stage. As negotiators work at breakneck speed, new Atlantic Council findings show what the United States would lose if NAFTA were not in place.What if NAFTA […]
Report by
Thu, Dec 3, 2020
A budget roils a nation. What’s happening in Guatemala?
The Guatemalan Congress went up in smoke, literally, on November 21, when massive protests broke out against a draft budget that was negotiated behind closed doors, with limited input from civil society, and that proposed cuts in funding for COVID-19 and human rights agencies as the country battles the virus, unemployment, and corruption.
New Atlanticist by Maria Fernanda Bozmoski
Wed, Nov 25, 2020
What a Biden presidency means for US-Colombia relations
On repeated occasions, President-elect Biden has characterized Colombia as the “keystone” of US foreign policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean, maintaining that, if elected president, restoring the alliance between the United States and Colombia will be among his top foreign policy priorities.
New Atlanticist by
Tue, Nov 10, 2020
¡Basta Ya! How pandemic-related corruption calls for a new social contract in Panama
In order for Panama to emerge from the pandemic with inclusive and sustainable growth, the country needs a new social contract that combats corruption and provides equal opportunities for everyone.
New Atlanticist by
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The Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center expands awareness of the new Latin America across diverse communities of influence by positioning the region as a core partner in the transatlantic community.