U.S. - Latin America Relations: Report of an Independent Task Force

Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Speaker
Shannon K. O'Neil
Fellow for Latin America Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
Presider
Karen J. DeYoung
Associate Editor & Senior Diplomatic Correspondent, The Washington Post
Chairs
Charlene Barshefsky
Senior International Partner, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
James T. Hill
President, The JT Hill Group, Inc.

The Task Force report assesses the current situation in Latin America and offers a fresh approach to U.S. policy toward the region. The Task Force identifies four priority areas that should provide the new basis of U.S. policy toward Latin America, including poverty and inequality, public security, human mobility, and energy security. Among its many recommendations, the report says the United States should initiate a series of steps to normalize relations with Cuba, with the ultimate aim of lifting of the embargo, and it should pass the Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

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