In this week's dispatch, we cover the Treasury’s removal of Venezuela’s national assembly head from sanctions list as Rubio gives update on transition talks. Also in this edition: ➡️ Mexico faces Trump pressure over energy deficit. ➡️ Rubio condemns Nicaragua’s rejection of U.S. ambassador and fields presidential phone calls. ➡️ Plus, Milei makes fifth U.S. visit in 2026, U.S. interest rate hike hits Chilean pension funds, judge acquits Ecuadorian fishermen affected by U.S. anti-narcotics campaign, and Treasury sanctions Mexico-based Cartel del Noreste. Read: as-coa.org/articles/trump-la…

“Separating from USMCA would make goods more expensive for North American consumers, particularly in the U.S., and jeopardize the financial health of many companies—particularly small and medium size enterprises which are at the heart of the supply chain,” writes AS/COA President and CEO @s_segal. In the newest issue of @AmerQuarterly, Segal details the history of North American integration, celebrates its economic successes, and explains why she believes USMCA must be defended. Read her piece: americasquarterly.org/articl…

How is China reshaping Latin America and the Caribbean across trade, technology, security, and geopolitics? Join Americas Society and Young Professionals of the Americas in Washington as we explore this question in a talk with @LelandLazarus, author of Dragon in the Americas: China’s Power, Presence, and Regional Influence, moderated by AS/COA Online Editor-in-Chief @CarinZissis. The event will be followed by a reception. 📅 October 21 ⏰ 5:30pm Register: as-coa.org/dragon

Is Latin America ready for the AI boom? At the Council of the Americas Symposium in November, top business and policy leaders will discuss all things AI, from the infrastructure that powers it to its adoption across industries 💡 Two main stage panels will examine how AI is shaping the region’s economy and what it means for business leaders: ⚙️ Powering the AI Economy: Latin America’s Data Center Potential 🗺️ The AI Roadmap: From Strategy to Competitive Advantage Whether evaluating new investment or determining how AI fits into your organization’s strategy, join 500+ CEOs, investors, and policymakers in Miami for #COASymposium. #BRAVObiz 🔗 Register: as-coa.org/events/2026-coa-s…

In this week's dispatch, @charrisontweets and @CarinZissis cover the G20 meeting between Brazil and U.S. trade officials, occurring just as Brazilians consider a new electoral path forward. Also in this edition: ➡️ Cooperation and contention in U.S.-Mexico security ties ➡️ How are Latin Americans feeling about Trump, Washington, Beijing, and more? The new Latinobarómetro has data. ➡️ But wait, there’s more: Bolivia arrests AG after U.S. visa revocation; a joint statement on Iran in the Americas; and a lesson on diesel threats In this edition we feature articles and content by @PerezEnMexico, @gilliantett, @mmlagoscc, @latinobarometro, @anniecorreal, @EricSchmittNYT, @schmidtsam7, and others. Read: as-coa.org/articles/trump-la…

A potential swing to the right in Brazil could be "the big prize for President Trump," said AS/COA's @BrazilBrian to @ckahn of @NPR. Hear his full thoughts on Brazil's political landscape and the election’s significance for the Trump administration: as-coa.org/articles/brian-wi…

On October 4, Brazilians voted the first round of presidential elections. Senator Flávio Bolsonaro captured the most votes and will face President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the runoff in three weeks time. 🇧🇷 Learn about this race, the legislative results, the foreign policy implications, and more: as-coa.org/articles/brazils-…

Thursday night was supposed to be the final presidential debate before Brazil’s October 4 first round. But both frontrunners, President Lula and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, decided not to participate. “This debate would have been an opportunity to stir up enthusiasm. But it’s so close, they opted for caution,” says AS/COA Vice President @BrazilBrian. Read his full take on the debate debacle: as-coa.org/articles/one-big-…

🇲🇽 Two years into office, President Sheinbaum maintains high approval. But how do Mexicans view her on the issues? Check out our poll tracker covering where the president stands on her second anniversary, with the latest from El Financiero's @almorenoal: as-coa.org/articles/approval…

This week's dispatch on Trump in Latin America looks at how White House actions factor into Brazil's presidential election ahead of the October 4 first round vote and covers new sanctions on Mexican officials linked to the Sinaloa Cartel as President Claudia Sheinbaum marks two years as president. Also in this edition: ➡️ Shield of the Americas membership sparks debate in Chile. ➡️ State announces visa restrictions on officials from Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. ➡️ U.S. ban on Canadian goods goes into effect. ➡️ Southcom general speaks on strategy. ➡️ The region braces for a potential diesel crunch. 🖋️ @charrisontweets & Khalea Robertson ow.ly/Gl6Y50ZTk40

As part of the AS/COA Healthcare Series and our ongoing engagement with the Pan American Health Organization (@PAHOWHO), AS/COA convened "Investing in Primary Health Care: Strengthening Health Security, Human Capital, and Economic Resilience in the Americas," a high-level dinner held alongside the 63rd PAHO Directing Council in Washington. The discussion focused on how governments, development partners, and industry can work together to scale up and target investment in primary health care. Primary care is the frontline for preventing, detecting, and managing noncommunicable diseases, which account for about 80 percent of the region's disease burden. It is also a foundation for human capital, productivity, and economic resilience. The conversation featured PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa (@DirOPSPAHO) and Deputy Director Dr. Mary Lou Valdez, alongside members of PAHO’s leadership team. Ministers of Health Marcela Flores of Bolivia, Frank Anthony of Guyana, and @LustembergC of Uruguay also joined the discussion, together with senior representatives from regional ministries of health, including Secretary of Health Management of Argentina Saul Flores, Institutional Strategy Coordinator at Mexico's Ministry of Health Margarita Pérez Villaseñor, and Director General of Public Health at Panama's Ministry of Health Dr. Ylekis Gill. We were also pleased to bring together representatives from multilateral institutions, including the World Bank, and U.S. government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Commerce, Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services, and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, together with our private-sector and industry partners such as FIFARMA, whose engagement is essential to advancing meaningful solutions. Their diverse perspectives and leadership made for a rich and meaningful conversation on strengthening health systems, investing in primary health care, and building greater health security, human capital, and economic resilience across the Americas. Learn more: as-coa.org/events/investing-…

🇧🇷 While the two names leading Brazil’s presidential race are familiar, @quaestpesquisa pollster @profFelipeNunes says a lot has changed within the 159 million Brazilians who can vote on October 4. In the latest #LatAmFocus episode, Nunes talks to AS/COA’s @luisaleme about how the country's jaded but politically engaged electorate view the tight Lula–Bolsonaro race. 🎧Listen: ow.ly/7Z4f50ZThxP

COA, in collaboration with the Cuba Emprende Foundation, hosted a program in Miami on September 24 with five leading Cuban economists, who comprise the Cuba Transformación Project. During the event, they presented their recently released white paper detailing a comprehensive roadmap for transforming the island's economic model, followed by a discussion on their vision, as well as recent developments. The panel focused on the primary economic priorities of their three-year Stabilization and Emergency Transformation Phase, including macroeconomic and financial stabilization, energy crisis resolution, agricultural reform and tourism recovery, and property and enterprise transformation. Speakers included: 🔹Mauricio De Miranda Parrondo, Ph.D., Professor and Researcher, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana 🔹Omar Everleny Pérez Villanueva, Ph.D., Senior Researcher and Academic, University of Havana 🔹Pedro Monreal González, Ph.D., Independent Economist and International Consultant 🔹Ricardo Torres Pérez, Ph.D., Research Professor, American University 🔹Pavel Vidal Alejandro, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana 🔹John McIntire, Americas Society Board Director & Chairman, Cuba Emprende Foundation