The Americas face a historic opportunity. Will the region grasp it?
As the United States pulls away from China, it needs its neighbours more than ever

Economic integration in North America tends to inspire extreme views. The most famous recent critic, Donald Trump, referred to the continent’s original free-trade pact as “the worst trade deal maybe ever”. By contrast, evangelists for cross-border links say they are making North America the world’s most dynamic region.
This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline “NAFTA 3.0”
From the March 25th 2023 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the edition
Poll tracker
Canada’s Liberals are surging
Justin Trudeau’s resignation and Donald Trump’s tariffs gave them a boost
The matadors’ last stand in Colombia
A blanket prohibition on bullfighting goes into effect in 2027
The bravest woman in Latin America?
Diana Salazar is fighting to halt Ecuador’s slide into chaos
Mexico deploys 10,000 troops to the US border
They have been sent to tackle the drugs trade—and placate Donald Trump
Javier Milei’s crypto misadventure
The Argentine’s first serious embarrassment as president
An Oscar-nominated film sparks a reckoning with Brazil’s dictatorship
“I’m Still Here” is as much about the country’s present as its past