South America: Split Decisions on Trade

Mexican carmarkers recently guaranteed themselves access to the United States. Now their Brazilian counterparts are looking to emulate the feat in a search for their own export markets.

To attempt to fulfill his populist campaign promises, the Brazilian president-elect will seek to remake his country's policies on corruption, security, trade and foreign relations.

In times past, Brazil's manufacturing industry ruled the roost on domestic and economic policy. Now agriculture has assumed that mantle.

After years of talks, a free trade agreement with the European Union is within reach for the South American bloc. But there's little time to spare. Political uncertainties in Brazil and Argentina could snatch the moment away.

Argentina, Bolivia and Chile all stand atop massive reserves of lithium, but only one of them appears set to benefit from the much-desired metal.

From popular anger at fuel prices to fears that a conservative populist might grab the presidency in October, Brazil's Congress has plenty to think about. Unsurprisingly, it's putting economic reform on the back burner.

Loan negotiations with one of Buenos Aires' old nemeses, the IMF, are doing Argentine President Mauricio Macri no favors in his bid for re-election next year.

Without forging congressional alliances, whoever wins Colombia's upcoming elections could encounter an uphill battle trying to pass legislation.

The country's presidential candidates all recognize that a dozen free trade deals over the past decade haven't produced the results many Colombians expected. But the question of how to move forward is where consensus yields to debate.

The president has made headway against inflation and the trade deficit, but the pace and pain of reform could lead voters to ditch his program.