The big headlines at the summit of President
Granted, most of the presidents and prime ministers spent much of their time during their public appearances talking about
Failure to reach a consensus on both issues led to the collapse of the hard-negotiated 16-paragraph summit final declaration. It was replaced by a presidential statement by the summit's host, Colombian President
But behind closed doors, most presidents talked about the rising trade barriers that several Latin American countries, especially
New measures by these and other countries to restrict imports are causing growing concern in the hemisphere. In the private talks among the leaders, "there is much more conversation about the economy and trade than on the big headline issues, such as
Mexican President
He added that for
But similar spats are taking place across the region.
Last month,
On Saturday, at the start of the two-day summit in
Elsewhere,
While trade among European nations amounts to 67 percent of their worldwide trade, and commerce among Asian countries amounts to 47 percent of their total trade,
Why are Latin American leaders raising trade barriers to their own neighbors?
As countries become more heavily dependent on commodity exports to
"There is concern in
My opinion: These U.S.-Latin American summits would be much more productive if leaders focused both their private and public discussions on solving economic problems, and left political controversies - such as those over
It would be nice to see a compromise on
- Latin America Delivers a Good, Swift Kick to the United States
- Latin American Countries Raising Trade Barriers Despite Vows to 'Connect The Americas'
- Regional Security, Not Iran, Primary Focus in Latin America
- One Laptop Per Child Plan Has a Future
- Argentina's Grab of Oil Firm: Bad Idea, Worse Timing
- Argentine President Takes It on the Chin
- Drug War Will Change Course in 2013
- Winning the Drug War and Rebuilding Mexico in the Process
- Mexico's Plan to Create a Paramilitary Force
- The Capital of Colombia Says, 'Farewell to Arms'
- Wal-Mart de Mexico: The Mexican Job
- Brazil Has Become A Disoriented Giant
- Argentina Hurts Itself in Falklands/Malvinas
- Falklands: Masterclass in UN Tactics
- American Gun Lobby Could Help Stop Mexico's Violence
- The U.S. Embargo Against Cuba: Washington's Sterile Havana Strategy
- Our Failed Cuba Policy Fixation
- Everybody Won and Lost in Pope's Trip to Cuba
- Latin American Schools: Disconnected
- Colombia's New Counterinsurgency Plan
- With the Focus on Syria, Mexico Burns
- Bolivian President Bows to Pressure and Cancels Amazon Highway
- Latin American Presidents Scrutinize 'War on Drugs'
- Iran's Quest to Expand its Diplomatic Frontiers in Latin America
- Latin Americans Complain of 'Ineptocracies'
- Chile's Interest in the Falkland Islands Dispute
- Region's First 'Virtual Summit' Should Set The Trend
- United States Should Treat Brazil Like India
- Mexico's Violence is Up, and So is Tourism
- Cardinal's Action Clouds Pope's Visit To Cuba
- Rethinking Latin America
- Chavez's Health Will Impact Venezuelan Elections
- Obama Should Take the Offensive on Cuba
- Pro-Drug Legalization Forces Gaining Clout
- Central America is No Somalia, But Close
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