Several ambassadors from Latin American Countries held a discussion at the Heritage Foundation to discuss the advancement free trade, liberty and prosperity in the Western hemisphere.

Ambassador Tomas Duenas of Costa Rica spoke about the dramatic positive effect that free trade had had in Central America, and warned of the implications if trade barriers increased. He recounted that the United States instituted policies of protectionism during the Great Depression, which caused other countries to respond with their own protectionist policies and ended up harming the entire world’s economy. “We must work together then to avoid falling into a similar situation,” said Duenas, “in difficult times some groups could find it politically attractive to follow that extremely detrimental path.”

Other ambassadors expanded on the dramatic economic effects that their countries have experienced as a result of more open trade with the United States. Ambassador Federico Humbert of Panama discussed how his country has seen growth for 23 straight quarters, and that 75 percent of Panama’s cargo goes to or from the US.

Ambassador Mariano Fernandez Amunategui of Chile spoke about how his country exported $8.7 billion and imported $7.2 billion worth of goods with the US, making Chile a larger US importer than Russia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Argentina and Turkey.

Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan spoke about the mutual benefits that have resulted from free trade between Mexico and the United States. “Twenty-five million new jobs have been created in America, in the United States, since NAFTA was approved,” said Sarukhan, “…this is a success story.”

Costa Rican Ambassador Tomas Duenas discuss the needs and benefits for the United States to form a closer relationship with the Western Hemisphere. (1:17)

 

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Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza comments on Congress refusing to vote on the Columbian Free Trade Agreement. Insulza says, “I think it’s very import not only for Columbia but the whole Latin America, for the whole U.S. Latin American relations.” Insulza was on hand for the second annual Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute conference in Washington, D.C. (0:30)

 

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Obama speaking today at the League of United Latin American Citizens on immigrants. He said that Americans have nothing to fear from new comers, because they come in the hopes that in America you can make it if you try. (0:28)

 

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Obama calls for a comprehensive immigration policy reform at the League of United Latin American Citizens conference. Obama says that he will do it on his first term as president of the United States. (0:43)

 

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Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke today at the Council of the Americas meeting. As she looked back over the years of the Bush Administration, Rice spoke very highly of the United States and its actions with the other American nations on this hemisphere.

In 2001, the western hemisphere went through a social revolution and its cause was democracy, Rice said. New leaders have emerged in different countries, people are becoming activity in their democracies and they want their governments to create change for them in a positive way. (more…)

The Organization of American States welcomed the governor of New Mexico and former Presidential candidate, Bill Richardson, to speak as part of their lecture series. The discussion om “Immigration and Hemispheric Affairs” focused mainly on immigration and economical ties between Latin America and the United States. (more…)

Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM) discusses US relations with Latin nations. (0:41)

 

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