The Council of the Americas is a American business organization whose stated goal is promoting free trade and open markets throughout the Americas. It was founded in 1965 by David Rockefeller and a group of like-minded business people. Since that time, membership has grown to over two-hundred corporations which the Council claims represents the majority to the US private investment in Latin America. The United States of America — also referred to as the United States, the U.S.A., the U.S., America, the States, or (archaically) Columbia—is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in central North America (with the exception of two states: Alaska and Hawaii). ... The Americas (sometimes referred to as America) is the area including the land mass located between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, generally divided into North America and South America. ... 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... David Rockefeller, (b. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ...

The Council of the Americas argues that free markets and private enterprise offer the most effective means to achieve regional economic growth and prosperity. It has been an ardent supporter of free trade agreements and has been instrumental in the conception of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). The Council has also campaigned for Trade Promotion Authority, usually referred to as "fast track" which gives the president of the US authority to negotiate trade agreements that cannot be amended by Congress, only voted on yes or no. It was in effect from 1975 to 1994 and resulted in NAFTA. It was restored in 2002 by the US Trade Promotion Authority Act. The North American Free Trade Agreement, known usually as NAFTA, is a comprehensive trade agreement linking Canada, the United States, and Mexico in a free trade sphere. ... The Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) is a free trade agreement between the United States and the Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras, and Canada, and Mexico. ... Fast track gives the President of the United States authority to negotiate trade agreements that cannot be amended by Congress, only voted on yes or no. ... The Trade Act of 2002 (HR 3009; also called the ) grants the President of the United States the authority to negotiate trade deals with other countries and only gives Congress the approval to vote up or down on the agreement, but not to amend it. ...

External links

• Council of the Americas website (http://www.counciloftheamericas.org/)