Looking to enter a new export market? Now has never been a better time to look south! The U.S. Commerce Department announced a new “Look South” initiative last Thursday to encourage an increase in American exports to Latin America. The initiative will help businesses explore Latin American markets, learn about emerging opportunities, and tap into federal programs that can help companies finalize deals.

After four years of difficult negotiations, Canada and the European Union have signed a free trade agreement that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has called “the biggest trade deal our country has ever made.” European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso hailed it as a “new opportunity to increase market access… gain a strong foothold in the North American market, and so provide a catalyst for growth and create jobs in Europe.”