Cuban cigar maker eyes 25-30 percent of U.S. market if embargo lifted

(Reuters) - Cuban cigar-maker Habanos S.A. expects to immediately gain 25 to 30 percent of the U.S. premium cigar market if the United States lifts its trade embargo and up to 70 percent of the market within a few years, the company said on Monday.

Brazil, Europe plan undersea cable to skirt U.S. spying

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Brazil and the European Union agreed on Monday to lay an undersea communications cable from Lisbon to Fortaleza to reduce Brazil's reliance on the United States after Washington spied on Brasilia.

U.S. trade relationships need an 'upgrade': Pritzker

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and other U.S. trade relationships are outdated and need an "upgrade", U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker said on Tuesday during a trade visit to Mexico.

Mexico urges U.S. to reach deal on raising debt ceiling

MEXICO CITY, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Mexico's finance minister urged the United States on Tuesday to reach an agreement on raising its debt ceiling, saying a failure to do so could seriously damage financial markets and the global economy.

U.S. spied on presidents of Brazil, Mexico: report

BRASILIA (Reuters) - The U.S. National Security Agency spied on emails, phone calls and text messages of the presidents of Brazil and Mexico, a Brazilian news program reported, a revelation that could strain Washington's relations with Latin America's two biggest nations.

Iran Influence in Latin America Waning, U.S. Report Says

Iran isn’t actively supporting terrorist cells in Latin America and its influence is waning in the region after almost a decade of promises to increase investment, according to a State Department report.

Xi visits US, Latin America as leader of more confident China after decade of explosive growth

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping meets his American counterpart, Barack Obama, this week after stops in the Caribbean and Latin America as the leader of a more confident China following a decade of explosive economic and trade growth.

Barack Obama wraps up Latin trip with an eye back home

SAN JOSE: President Barack Obama, concluding a three-day visit to Mexico and Costa Rica, is cheering Mexican economic advances and pressing other Central American leaders to deal with poverty and security while reaching out to a politically powerful Latino audience back home.

Central America struggles to unite for Obama trip

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) -- President Barack Obama on Friday visits a Central America that continues to be plagued by violence, drug trafficking, corruption and poverty, despite the success of a decade-old trade agreement with the United States.

Mexico Peso Drops as Global Growth Concern Damps Export Outlook

Mexico’s peso dropped the most in three weeks as signs of a stalled global recovery damped the outlook for the Latin American country’s exports.

Mexico finds some US allies in trade dispute

As tomato growers in Florida and some other states fight a 16-year-old agreement that they contend allows farmers in Mexico to export tomatoes at a price below their costs, the Mexican farmers are finding allies in the United States.

Analysis: Mexico's new president to reset drug war, push reforms

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's new president takes office on Saturday seeking to shift the focus away from a grisly drug war and onto economic reforms aimed at sparking fast growth and pulling the country out of the shadow of regional powerhouse Brazil.

Mexico-U.S. near agreement on bilateral tomato trade pact

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico and the United States expect to reach agreement on a new bilateral tomato trade pact by the end of the month, Mexico's economy minister said on Tuesday.

Latin America seen as 'second-tier' issue in US election

BOGOTA, Colombia — There's a running joke in Latin America that the region should be allowed to vote for the U.S. president because the outcome matters so much here. But with just over a week to go before the election, the region is feeling left out of the race.

Steep hike in customs fees leaves many Cubans fuming

HAVANA (Reuters) - A sharp increase in customs duties has angered many Cubans and cast a shadow over market-oriented reforms on the communist-ruled island advocated by President Raul Castro.

In Colombia, Obama seeks to focus on US economy

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Putting an election year spin on his international agenda, President Barack Obama on Friday cast Latin America's rapid rise as a business opportunity for the U.S. economy.

Mexico's President Calderon in Cuba for talks

HAVANA (AP) — Mexican President Felipe Calderon was sitting down with Cuba's Raul Castro on Wednesday to strengthen economic cooperation and further repair a relationship that has been strained during more than a decade of center-right rule in Mexico.

Brazil's Rousseff tells Obama of 'currency war' worries

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Monday expressed concern to President Barack Obama that the easy money policies of developed countries threaten the growth of emerging economies like Brazil.

Biden visits Mexico and Honduras amid drug debate

US Vice-President Joe Biden is visiting Mexico and Honduras amid calls by regional leaders for a new debate on decriminalising drug use.

Rousseff to visit Cuba, focus on post-embargo era

(Reuters) - Some forty years ago, Dilma Rousseff was a guerrilla fighter working clandestinely to bring a version of Cuban leader Fidel Castro's communist revolution to Brazil.