Assesses the prospects for a hemispheric trade accord and its importance for the United States and its Latin American partners. Provides an overview of recent hemispheric trade initiatives to demonstrate that trade has been the cornerstone of the broader relationship between North and South America. Looks at the current problems confronting FTAA countries as they pursue new negotiations, how that accord is likely to evolve, and the key economic and political interests of the United states in the sucess of this initiative. Concludes with alternative scenarios for FTAA outcomes that match the ambiguous state of current economic and political conditions in the hemisphere.

3/7/00 M2LMGR