Free Trade Area of the Americas

There are free houses in Panama City, the pick of downtown real estate in Atlanta, a new convention-center complex in San Juan and a convenient spot near the airport in Colorado Springs. When -- and if -- the Free Trade Area of the Americas looks for a home, it will have plenty of choices.

Miami has offered two prime bayfront spots for the FTAA headquarters and put its international reputation on the line in pursuit of the facility. But its competitors have submitted their own packages of perks and giveaways in the hope of luring the FTAA secretariat and landing the international cachet and spinoff jobs that backers expect will follow.

Panama City -- widely mentioned as Miami's top rival in the contest -- has offered to convert a large chunk of its main convention center for the secretariat and give away 20 homes, located on a former U.S. military base near the Panama Canal, for use as FTAA staff residences.

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