Nanotech diplomacy

The building blocks for cooperation between the US and Latin America on nanotechnology are being put in place.

From the US-Brazil meeting fact sheets:

Representatives from the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation; Brazilian National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology; and the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative met on March 30, 2012, to discuss national strategies, research programs, and shared access to user facilities. Significant opportunities for collaboration, including undergraduate and graduate student exchanges, were identified between the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers and the Brazilian Nanotechnology Centers. The two countries have launched workshops on Converging Technologies, with the first held in São Paulo in October 2011 and a second to be held in Arlington, Virginia, in June 2012. 

Also, the recent North American leaders meeting promised "aligning principles of our regulatory approaches to nanomaterials."

The US appears to be positioning itself on this issue before most people even notice the discussion is occurring.