NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AMERICAS SOCIETY. COUNCIL OF THE AMERICAS
May 2006


Highlights:

In Our Words

Regional Leaders In Depth

Events and Analysis

Viewpoints Americas

Hemispheric Updates


AS/COA Note
Read about the inaugural issue of the policy newsletter and our new relationship with the Financial Times.


In our words

Una America del Norte Prospera y Competitiva
By Eric Farnsworth and Ruben Olmos
Reforma
Presidents Bush and Fox and Prime Minister Harper met at an opportune moment to assess the trilateral agenda and advances made in the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP/ASPAN). North American competitiveness hinges on their actions.
Full Article - Spanish

Latin America's Lurch to the Left
By Christopher Sabatini and Eric Farnsworth
The Christian Science Monitor
Characterizing Latin America as hopelessly drifting away from US interests or as uniformly jettisoning the market economy "model" underestimates the complexity of both US relations and democracy in the region. In this year of elections, US policy must be designed to keep open avenues of discussion with emerging candidates and newly elected leaders.
Full Article

The Death of the Washington Consensus
By Alan Stoga
America Economia
In a year when most Latin countries are conducting national elections, there has been little real debate about how to maximize economic growth. Most candidates are too caught up in the process of getting elected and most voters are too cynical to expect their potential leaders to actually address serious policy issues during political campaigns.
Full Article - English
Full Article - Spanish


Regional Leaders In Depth

U.S. Secretary of State Rice on Democracy and Development
Addressing Council of the Americas members, Secretary Rice notes that the challenge of creating and sustaining effective, independent, accountable and transparent institutions is one faced in Latin America, globally and throughout the history of the United States.
Full Speech

Former President F.H. Cardoso Looks at Regional Trends
Brazilian President Cardoso (1994-2002) looks at the region-wide reform agenda and analyzes the state of democracy in the region. "Populism is a threat that we ignore at our own peril."
Full Interview

President Tabare Vazquez and Equitable Economic Growth
President Vazquez pledges Uruguay's commitment to broadening and deepening its subregional pact, MERCOSUR, while looking at increased commercial relations with the United States. He stresses that the benefits of development must be shared by all people.
Full Speech - Spanish

PRC Ambassador to the U.S. Zhou Wenzhong Addresses the China-Latin America Relationship Ambassador Wenzhong sees overcoming geographical and cultural barriers, increasing exchanges and enhancing mutual understanding as key factors for increasing mutual investment. China hopes that greater economic and political exchanges between East Asia and Latin America will promote South-South and inter-regional cooperation.
Full Interview


Events and Analysis

Growth and Development Themes at 36th Washington Conference on the Americas
On May 2-3, speakers at the Council of the Americas' annual Washington Conference emphasized that the success of economic growth and democracy must be measured by their ability to bring equitable social development and improve the lives of all citizens. "Creating Jobs, Building Hope: The Hemispheric Growth Agenda in a Changing World" brought together over 250 high-level private sector representatives and decision makers.
Full Summary

Brazil Election Series Offers First Glimpse at the October Elections
The Brazil Study Group launches its Brazil Election Series with a discussion on voter attitudes, campaign themes, including employment and public ethics, and candidate profiles and projections. In five months, Brazilians will choose their next President, 27 Governors, one-third of the Senate and all 513 Federal Deputies.
Full Summary

Description Of Series
Andean Roundtable Discusses the Peruvian Presidential Campaign and Bolivia
The April 18 Andean Election Series event presented government, media and private sector perspectives on both rounds of voting in Peru and potential social and economic policy paths in both Bolivia and Peru.
Full Summary


Viewpoints Americas

A Tale of Two Futures for the New World
17 May 2006
Marc Lautenbach of IBM Americas offers two possible futures for our hemisphere. The first, more promising than the other, envisions the Americas as a leader in the global economy; while the second, foresees respectable growth but with less of a commitment to integration and more of a propensity to "go it alone."
Full Article

A Revitalized FTAA Takes Shape Spurred by Bilateral Agreements and China Reality
12 May 2006
Jorge Arrizurieta of Akerman Senterfitt analyzes the prospects of free trade in the hemisphere. Country-specific situations will impact trade agrements along with non-political factors such as the influence of China and the role of ethanol.
Full Article

Promise in the Caribbean
5 May 2006
Eric Farnsworth of the Council of the Americas looks at the future of energy security in the Caribbean. While investors have typically overlooked the Caribbean islands due to the relatively small scale of opportunities, this may be changing as leaders begin to promote their nations as a unified economic space.
Full Article


Hemispheric Updates

Mexico Election Update
The July 2 Mexican elections are critical for the policy direction of Mexico and the rest of the Americas. In the third of our monthly Mexico Election Updates, AS/COA takes a look at the first campaign debate, rule of law, the Federal Electoral Institute and latest polling information.
Full Update

Peru Election Update
With the first-round of voting concluded, Alan Garcia and Ollanta Humala square off again on June 4. This update, the first in our monthly Andean series, provides an overview of the first round results, regional relations, and trade and foreign investment while looking ahead.
Full Update

Trade Review
The hemispheric trade agenda is in flux with any chance of reaching a Free Trade Area of the Americas hinging on the stalled Doha Round negotiations. Within this reality, the Council of the Americas assesses the bilateral trade agenda, implementation of existing agreements, Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act extension and dispute resolution.
Full Review