Are Latin American and Caribbean countries emerging from a period of slow growth and, in some cases, outright recession? In its new flagship report on international and regional trade, the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC/CEPAL) argues that the region’s foreign trade shows signs of rebounding, with countries emerging from the negative trends of the 2012-2016 period.

Within this context, the case of Argentina is particularly relevant. The country is striving to rebuild its economy and increase international commercial links following a decade of economic isolation due in part to a protracted stand-off with holders of Argentine debt. The efforts of the current government of President Mauricio Macri involve significant domestic reforms, international re-branding, and new leadership in multilateral institutions, from the World Trade Organization to the G-20.

We hosted a discussion of CEPAL’s newly-released report, International Trade Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean, 2017 (previously known as Latin America and the Caribbean in the World Economy), with specific reference to the Argentine government’s efforts to reposition the country and the next steps planned in carrying out its reformist agenda.