Program archives

Robin Matthewman is currently the Division Chief of the Europe and Western Hemisphere Division, Office of Bilateral Trade Affairs, in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs at the State Department. Ms. Matthewman has been an Economic Officer in the U.S. Foreign Service for almost 18 years. She has served overseas in Mexico (1988-89), Costa Rica (1989-91), Russia (1997-1999) and most recently as the Economic Counselor in the U.S. Embassy in Honduras 2001-2004). Previous domestic postings included desk officer for Venezuela (1999-2001) and the New Independent States in the Caucus and Central Asia (1994-96). She is currently chief of the Europe and Western Hemisphere division of the Economic Bureau's bilateral trade office, overseeing State Department work on the negotiation of free trade agreements in Latin America, terms of accession of countries like Russia and Ukraine to the World Trade organization, and bilateral trade disputes.

Ms. Matthewman will discuss the Central America Free Trade Agreement, CAFTA, which would lower trade barriers between the United States and Central America. CAFTA, which was signed last May by the U.S. and six Central American countries, will go to Congress for ratification this spring.