[1] This gathering of regional leaders was the first attempt in four years to negotiate conditions for the creation of a hemispheric free trade area.

No final agreements were made, but the nations set up a Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) consisting of vice ministers from each country that would meet every few months.

The function of these summits is to foster discussion of a variety of issues affecting the western hemisphere.

[2] The summits which garnered most general public and media attention were the Quebec City and Mar del Plata events, both provoking very large anti-globalization and anti–Free Trade Area of the Americas protests.

Police responses to protesters and demonstrations developed into independent news stories.