The leaders of the United States and 33 other countries of the Western Hemisphere will begin a three-day Summit of the Americas in Miami on Friday aimed at establishing a free-trade zone.
With the issues of commerce and business heading the agenda of almost every Latin American and Caribbean country, the presidents and prime ministers at the U.S.-convened summit hope to reach agreement on specific steps to expand trade and foreign investment. However, no timetable will be set for economic integration, something some officials see as a drawback.
