We are the leading U.S. firm advising companies on how they can benefit from the opportunities provided by the ATPDEA (Andean Trade Preference and Drug Eradication Act), CAFTA-DR (the U.S.-Central America and Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement), CBTPA (U.S.-Carribean Basin Trade Partnership Act), MERCOSUR (the Spanish acronym for the Common Market of the South), the Andean Community, the G-3 Agreement, the Central American Integration System, and ALADI (the Latin American Integration Association).

Our clients rely on our advice when realizing their objectives and value our counsel with regard to laws applicable to international trade, foreign direct investment, and tax liabilities.

We have a thorough understanding of how the various Western Hemisphere economic integration efforts and U.S. free trade agreements as well as preferential market access programs operate. This enables us to anticipate trends affecting these integration programs and how they impact investment, trade, and logistics decisions.

Our extensive experience in the region allows us to assist companies with rules concerning certificates of origin, local content and technical requirements, regional distribution strategies and transportation options, as well as arbitration procedures for resolving disputes.

It's no wonder that we are the leading firm advising U.S. and Latin American companies on ways to benefit from opportunities provided by the ATPDEA, CAFTA-DR, CBTPA, MERCOSUR, the Andean Community, the G-3 Agreement, the Central American Integration System, and ALADI.

Contact us to find out how our experts can bring you up to date on investment and export opportunities in South America and enhance your business options throughout the Americas.

Publicado en la Revista de Derecho Privado y Comunitario, Año 2010, # 3, pp. 553-572.

I. Introducción

La primera vez que se escuchó la idea de conformar una Alianza de Energía y Clima de las Américas fue cuando el entonces candidato para la presidencia de los EE.UU., Barack Hussein Obama, lo mencionó durante el único discurso en que propuso lo que sería su futura política hacia América Latina y el Caribe si ganaba las elecciones en noviembre de 2008. El objetivo principal de dicho discurso, ofrecido en Miami en mayo de 2008, fue no solo tratar de conseguir los votos de la influyente comunidad cubana-norteamericana del Estado de Florida, sino también apoyar las candidaturas demócratas de dos cubanos-norteamericanos y una colombiana-norteamericana, a la Cámara de Representantes Federal. Sus opositores eran tres representantes republicanos que ya ocupaban los cargos y todos ellos también pertenecientes a la colectividad cubana-norteamericana.2 En consecuencia, puede no sorprender que Obama dedicara la mayor parte de su discurso al tema de las relaciones entre los EE.UU. y Cuba.