战略与国际研究中心-Hemisphere-Highlights,-Volume-VII,-Issue-7_6页_153kb

HEMISPHERE HIGHLIGHTS Summary

Core Content

This summary outlines key political, economic, and social developments across the Americas in July 2008, highlighting changes in federal-provincial relations in Canada, regional health initiatives in Mexico, economic reforms in Cuba, political transitions in Haiti, security agreements in Colombia, and the ongoing political and judicial challenges in Venezuela and Chile.

Main Points and Key Information

Canada

• Quebec Autonomy: The Harper government announced its willingness to allow Quebec to negotiate a unilateral labor-mobility deal with France, reflecting Canada's "open federalism" tradition.
• Provincial Autonomy: This move is seen as a potential extension to other provinces, aiming to address their unique economic needs, such as labor shortages in Alberta and climate change policies in British Columbia.
• Political Implications: Critics view this as a political maneuver to secure votes in Quebec ahead of potential elections, despite the government's claim of respecting provincial jurisdiction.

Mexico

• AIDS 2008 Conference: Mexico hosted the 17th International AIDS Conference, drawing over 21,000 participants to discuss HIV prevention, treatment, and care.
• Regional Commitment: A declaration of commitment was made to integrate sexual education into national HIV/AIDS prevention strategies.
• Health Challenges: Despite low adult HIV prevalence rates in Latin America, the region still faces challenges due to weak health systems and the need for better surveillance and outreach.

Caribbean

• PetroCaribe Reforms: Venezuela's Hugo Chávez announced new reforms to the PetroCaribe program, including accepting payments in kind and creating a special development fund.
• Economic Concerns: While the plan may provide short-term relief, its long-term effectiveness is uncertain, especially for countries that remain net food importers.
• Oil Infrastructure: Venezuela needs to expand refining capacity and infrastructure to support the program, which is still in development.

Cuba

• Economic Reforms: Raul Castro introduced several economic and social reforms, including land leasing for farmers, increased pension availability, and elimination of salary caps.
• Reforms and Challenges: While these reforms signal a move away from strict Communist ideology, they are seen as superficial by some, as they do not address deeper economic inequalities.
• Government Control: The Cuban government retains control over most sectors and can revoke reforms at any time, raising concerns about the sustainability of change.

Haiti

• New Prime Minister: Michele Pierre-Louis was confirmed as Haiti's new prime minister on July 31, ending a political crisis.
• Challenges Ahead: She faces challenges such as unassigned donor funds and the potential inability of families to afford school materials.
• UN Support: The UN remains a key player in ensuring security and stability in Haiti, with a resolution to renew peacekeeper presence due in October.

South America

Colombia

• Security Agreements: Colombia and Brazil signed 10 bilateral accords, including two focused on security and defense.
• Defense Council: Colombia joined the South American Defense Council, a Brazilian-led initiative, under the condition that only state actors are involved.
• Regional Leadership: These agreements reflect Brazil's growing influence and Colombia's assertiveness in regional security matters.

Venezuela

• Election Delays: Candidates for the November 23 gubernatorial and mayoral elections have not been finalized.
• Opposition and Referendum: The opposition is struggling to unify, and the government is using the elections as a political test following its defeat in a referendum.
• Chávez's Strategy: Chávez has threatened "civil war" if his candidates lose, indicating the high stakes of the election.

Brazil

• Ethanol Tariffs: The EU proposed a tariff break on Brazilian sugarcane ethanol, which was rejected by Brazil due to concerns over future demand.
• WTO Disputes: Brazil is considering challenging U.S. ethanol tariffs under WTO rules, as they protect American farmers from cheaper Brazilian imports.
• Environmental Benefits: Brazilian sugarcane ethanol is more environmentally friendly than U.S. corn ethanol, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90%.

Bolivia

• Recall Referendum: Bolivia will hold a national recall vote on August 10 for President Evo Morales and nine governors.
• Political Strategy: The referendum is designed to weaken the autonomy movement in eastern Bolivia and consolidate Morales' authority.
• Support for Morales: A recent survey reported 55% public support for Morales, suggesting a strong chance of him surviving the recall.

Chile

• Justice for Pinochet Era: A court indicted three military figures for the last murders committed under the Pinochet regime, marking a significant step in holding past regime officials accountable.
• Command Responsibility: The ruling recognizes the responsibility of command, not just direct perpetrators, and highlights the potential for judicial reform in Chile.
• Slow Justice Process: Despite the atrocities of the Pinochet era, only 30 officials have been convicted in 20 years, with many still under investigation.

Argentina

• Farm Bill Defeat: The government's proposed increase in agricultural export duties was rejected by Congress, leading to the resignation of two officials.
• Political Shifts: The alliance between the Kirchner administration and the K-Radicals is deteriorating, signaling a change in Argentina's political landscape.
• Constitutional Issues: The bill was initially based on an unconstitutional delegation of power, leading to a legal and political showdown.

Contributing Authors

• Katherine E. Bliss – Deputy Director and Senior Fellow
• Lowell Fleischer – Senior Associate
• Carlos M. Regúnaga – Argentina Office
• Johanna Mendelson Forman – Senior Associate
• Jessica Horwitz – Program Coordinator
• Catherine Rebecca Dooley – Intern-Scholar
• Ariadne Medler – Intern-Scholar
• Joseph A. Kapusnick – Intern-Scholar
• Russell Prag – Intern-Scholar

About Hemisphere Highlights

• Published monthly by the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
• CSIS is a private, tax-exempt institution that focuses on international policy issues.
• The research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary, and the views expressed are solely those of the authors.