As I walked through the state-of-the-art facilities of the new Paso Canoas trade facilitation hub in Costa Rica, I was captivated by local officials’ enthusiastic explanations. The project is the first of its kind, and the excitement about it was contagious. The public’s reactions made me realize that Paso Canoas was about much more than physical infrastructure and the trade in … [Read more...] about Paso Canoas: A Game-Changer for Trade Facilitation in Latin America
ConnectAmericas celebrates 10 years of connecting businesses in Latin America and the Caribbean
As a development bank, the IDB is always looking for opportunities to improve lives in the Americas. Working directly with government officials and in dialogue with civil society and the private sector, our teams have witnessed the development of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) firsthand. We analyze challenges and come up with innovative ways of overcoming obstacles that … [Read more...] about ConnectAmericas celebrates 10 years of connecting businesses in Latin America and the Caribbean
The Impact of Voluntary Sustainability Standards on Agricultural Exports: Friends or Foes?
Agricultural commodities make up a substantial portion of exports for many developing countries, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This means that any changes in agricultural practices can significantly impact their trade flows. Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) are private certifications that ensure products and production processes meet a wide … [Read more...] about The Impact of Voluntary Sustainability Standards on Agricultural Exports: Friends or Foes?
Navigating an Evolving Global Economy: The Future of Korea-LAC Relations
In recent decades, the relationship between Korea and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has flourished amidst a period of unprecedented international economic cooperation. However, the recent proliferation of trade barriers and subsidies poses new challenges. What does this mean for Korea-LAC relations? A recent report by the IDB argues that despite these challenges, … [Read more...] about Navigating an Evolving Global Economy: The Future of Korea-LAC Relations
Toward greater regulatory cooperation for trade
As tariffs continue to decrease worldwide, technical measures like sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBT) have become relatively more important as potential obstacles to international trade. The literature has focused particularly on the potential obstacles arising from differences in national regulations, a situation known as … [Read more...] about Toward greater regulatory cooperation for trade