Relations between the four members of South America’s Mercosur trade bloc—Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay—are at their worst since the group’s establishment three decades ago. If the bloc is not up to the task of adapting to the 21st century, it may be time to set its members free to pursue their own trade and development goals.
Bruno Binetti
Articles & Op-Eds ˙
˙ World Politics Review
La visita a Guatemala de la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris cerró un primer acto político muy importante para Estados Unidos y Centroamérica. Como lo saben el presidente Joe Biden y Harris, Centroamérica es una parte del mundo crucial para Estados Unidos, por muchas razones pero principalmente por la migración.
Companies are increasingly under pressure from the public and regulators to both disclose and improve environment, social, and governance (ESG) metrics. Such regulations in Europe and the United States will nudge investors toward low emissions projects. All this capital has to be put somewhere, and Latin America and other emerging markets are well positioned to become big recipients of these increased climate-focused flows.
The second round of the Peruvian presidential elections will take place on June 6. Peru, which is suffering the economic and social effects of the pandemic, will choose between Keiko Fujimori, a former lawmaker in her third run for the country’s highest office and Pedro Castillo, a rural teacher and union leader from the northern region of Cajamarca.
In a vitriolic address to Argentina’s Congress on March 1, President Alberto Fernandez put to rest any illusions that he would be a moderating influence on his vice president and political mentor, former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. During his speech, the president attacked Cristina Fernandez’s traditional enemies, including the press, the judiciary, and the political opposition. More surprisingly, he also criticized the IMF, despite being in the middle of discussions to renegotiate Argentina’s $44 billion debt.
Bruno Binetti
Articles & Op-Eds ˙
˙ World Politics Review
As the Biden administration begins to undo Donald Trump’s legacy in Latin America, many in the region appear guardedly optimistic about the prospects for more constructive relations with their northern neighbor.
Covid-19 has devastated the Peruvian economy. But as the country seeks to rebuild in the virus’s wake, it has a chance to focus on fighting climate change and creating a more sustainable development model. The extractive industries central to Peru’s economy are a source of underutilized revenues that could help seize this opportunity.
President Joe Biden didn’t waste any time using his office and authority to set out an ambitious agenda and send a clear message to the American people and the world: under his administration, the US would adopt a very different tone and style – and pursue a notably different policy course – than Donald Trump.
El 2021 será el cuarto año en que la prosperidad económica estará lejos del alcance de los nicaragüenses. La caída de ingresos es bestial, cientos de miles de personas sin percibir ingreso, con la mayoría de los trabajadores percibiendo un mes menos de lo que ganaban en el 2019, y prácticamente diez meses menos de cómo estaban en el 2017.
As the Biden administration prepares to restore US leadership on the global stage, enhanced coordination with Latin America and the Caribbean on vital issues such as climate change, human rights, and a rules-based trading system beckons as a strategic opportunity. The president-elect, more than any recent occupant of the White House, is well placed to seize it.
When President Biden takes office in January, he will not approach Latin America with a blank checkbook or magic formulas for hemispheric comity and recovery, but he will offer his characteristic humanity, his belief in the region’s promise, and his administration’s steadfast engagement.
A medida que Colombia trata de recuperarse de la devastación económica que le ha generado el Covid-19, también debe esforzarse en el cumplimiento de sus metas en materia de cambio climático y la creación de un modelo de desarrollo más sostenible. Los ingresos fiscales procedentes de la producción de minería e hidrocarburos podrían utilizarse para cumplir con esos importantes objetivos.