Council of the Americas

Council of the Americas is an American organization whose stated goal is promoting free trade and open markets throughout the Americas.

History
The group was founded in 1963 as the Business Group for Latin America by David Rockefeller, at the request of President John F. Kennedy as a means for business to fight the influence of Fidel Castro in Latin America. The Kennedy administration conceded investment guarantees, which by 1967 would cost the government $600 million in the case of Chile alone. Almost 30 corporations participated by 1965, when the Business Group was reorganized as the Council for Latin America.