LatinNews Daily - 19 May 2011

USA-Region: In response to John McCain's Latin America trip in July, speculation continues over whether Democrat presidential candidate, Barack Obama, will embark upon his own visit to Latin America. According to New Mexico governor and strong Obama supporter, Bill Richardson, discussions regarding the possibility of such a trip are being held. Talks held between Obama's chief Latin American advisor, Dan Restrepo and Chilean ambassador to the US, Mariano Fernández fuelled speculation in the Chilean press of the likelihood of a visit by the presidential hopeful. Reports suggest that Brazil, Mexico and Chile would be the most likely destinations for an Obama trip. Whereas John McCain made great pains to visit Colombia, Washington's staunchest ally in the region, Restrepo indicated that if such a trip were to take place, Obama would unlikely “follow McCain's lead and walk into the political minefield of a visit to Colombia."
 
Brazil: Brazil's representative at the World Trade Organisation requested on 25 August the right to impose sanctions against the US, the value of which may be as much as US$4 bn annually. Justifying the magnitude of the sanction, Brazil's foreign minister, Ceslo Amorim, said “it's _ very high because the harm that these subsidies cause is very big." The action by Brazil at the WTO comes in light of the US failure to overturn a WTO ruling against US cotton subsidies last year. Brazil, along with several West African cotton-producers argue that US subsidies to cotton farmers, which totalled US$12.5 bn between 1999 and 2003, means that their local farmers are severely disadvantaged. Washington maintains that its subsidies do not lead to American producers undercutting foreign competitors. Sean Spicer, spokesperson for the US trade representative's office said the US would “vigorously" defend American interests.