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
Trade Facilitation
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?
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
Latin America’s Role in Global Food Security: Trade, investment, and sustainable transformations
In a world where the bounty of food surpasses the caloric needs of its population, it is paradoxical that hunger and food insecurity persist on a grand scale. Global food provision offers approximately 2.980 kcal per person per day—well above the 1.830 kcal needed to avoid undernourishment. Yet around 735 million people or 9.2% of world population, still face … [Read more...] about Latin America’s Role in Global Food Security: Trade, investment, and sustainable transformations