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United States-Latin America and the Caribbean Trade Developments 2025

19 Dec 2025 | Publication

In 2024, Latin America and the Caribbean accounted for 19.2% of total United States trade, similar to the level recorded in 2023. The region’s share of total United States trade in goods, 23.2%, surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The region, driven by Mexico, remained a net exporter of goods to the United States: imports by that country from Latin America and the Caribbean rose by 7.4% to US$ 661 billion, while exports increased by 2.9% to US$ 517 billion, widening the United States goods trade deficit with the region to US$ 144 billion. Latin America and the Caribbean also accounted for 11.5% of …

United States-Latin America and the Caribbean Trade Developments: trade patterns and opportunities in the Caribbean

19 Dec 2025 | Publication

This special issue of United States-Latin America and the Caribbean Trade Developments provides an overview of trade relations between the United States and the Caribbean for the period 2021–2024. It presents an analysis of trends in goods and services trade; key sectors and partner economies; and an assessment of the degree of trade concentration. The findings show that although overall trade volumes recovered and expanded after the pandemic, the Caribbean’s share of total United States trade remained below 1%, highlighting the region’s limited but gradually increasing engagement with that co…

Capital flows to Latin America and the Caribbean: first nine months of 2025

13 Nov 2025 | Publication

Latin American and Caribbean international bond issuance totalled US$ 161 billion in the first nine months of 2025, 32% higher than the full-year total for 2024 and the highest amount on record. The average coupon rate of 6.6%, compared with 7.1% in 2024, points to easing external financing costs. The market remained open to high-yield issuers, though investment-grade borrowers accounted for 64% of total issuance. While overall issuance reached new highs, green, social, sustainability and sustainability-linked (GSSS) bond issuance moved in the opposite direction. The region issued US$ 14.05 bi…

Mapping sustainability in Latin America and the Caribbean: sectoral and energy transition insights from sustainable bonds, 2014–2024

15 Oct 2025 | Publication

This study examines the role of green, social, sustainable, and sustainability-linked (GSSS) bonds in financing the energy transition in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). It combines a descriptive assessment of sectoral bond issuance patterns from 2014 to 2024 with an econometric exercise focusing on the region’s top five issuers. The results indicate that GSSS bonds have contributed to the expansion of renewable energy capacity but have not yet produced a structural shift in the overall energy mix. These findings underscore both the opportunities and limitations of sustainable finance, h…

United States economic outlook: evolving trends in the ownership of United States federal debt

14 Oct 2025 | Publication

This special issue of the United States economic outlook examines the trends in the ownership composition of United States federal debt holders, focusing on the balance between domestic and foreign investors and its implications for fiscal policy, financial stability and Latin America and the Caribbean. It provides updated data through mid-2025 on the structure of Treasury holdings, highlighting both the region’s participation as holders of United States debt and the strategies adopted by Latin American and Caribbean countries. The publication builds on two earlier reports by the ECLAC office …

United States economic outlook: 2024 year-in-review and first half of 2025

2 Oct 2025 | Publication

In 2024, the United States economy expanded 2.8%, led by consumer spending. Job creation slowed and the unemployment rate edged up to 4.1% in December. Inflation eased to 2.4% in September but closed the year at 2.9%, with the core consumer price index (CPI) at 3.2%. The Federal Reserve cut rates in September, November and December, lowering the federal funds target range to 4.25%–4.50%, while trade and fiscal deficits widened. In the first half of 2025, GDP growth averaged 1.4%, with a contraction of 0.3% in the first quarter and an uptick of 3.3% in the second. From January to July, the eco…

Work-life balance in the United States: women in the workforce and the policy challenges of a growing care economy

5 Jun 2025 | Publication

This paper explores the multifaceted challenges of achieving work-life balance in the United States as the country navigates the policy challenges of a growing care economy, particularly focusing on the persistent gender disparities, economic policies, and societal expectations that shape this issue. Women's participation in the labour force has been a major driver of economic growth, yet the absence of supportive policies like paid parental leave and affordable childcare hinders their full engagement and limits national economic potential. The United Sates continues to lag other developed nat…

Capital flows to Latin America and the Caribbean: 2024 year-in-review and early 2025 developments

15 May 2025 | Publication

Latin American and Caribbean bond issuance in international markets amounted to US$ 121.8 billion in 2024, 36% higher than in 2023 and the strongest figure in three years. The average coupon rate, at 7.1%, was slightly above the 2023 level of 6.9%, indicating that financing costs remain elevated. Although the market was still open to high-yield issuers, investment grade bonds accounted for 57% of the region’s issuance. In 2024, issuance of green, social, sustainability and sustainability-linked (GSSS) bonds on international markets climbed by 6% relative to 2023, to a total of US$ 33.1 billi…

United States economic outlook: third quarter of 2024

6 Jan 2025 | Publication

The United States economy expanded at an annualized rate of 3.1% in the third quarter of 2024, above the economy’s long-term growth potential and the 3.0% growth recorded in the second quarter, driven primarily by consumer spending. The resilience of consumer spending has been supported by receding inflation and a robust labour market. Employment has increased for 47 consecutive months, but the labour market is softening. Progress in bringing down inflation has stalled over the past three months, with inflation rising from 2.4% in September 2024 to 2.7% in November. The Federal Reserve cut int…

United States-Latin America and the Caribbean Trade Developments 2024

3 Jan 2025 | Publication

United States trade in goods slowed in 2023, ending the recovery following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, as goods exports and imports declined by 2.2% and 4.9%, respectively. The decrease in merchandise trade contrasts with significant improvements in services trade, as exports and imports of services rose by 8.2% and 4.8%, respectively. Recently, exports of digitally enabled services have considerably outpaced those of other services and goods, underscoring their growing importance in the global market. The relative weight of Latin America and the Caribbean in United States tra…

Capital flows to Latin America and the Caribbean: first 10 months of 2024

24 Dec 2024 | Publication

Latin American and Caribbean issuers placed US$ 112 billion of bonds in international markets in the first 10 months of 2024. This total was 40% higher than in the same period in 2023. The market remained open to high-yield issuers from the region, but most of the region’s issuances (58%) came from the investment grade sector. After two consecutive years in which sovereign issuances surpassed the 50% mark, corporate bond issuances in the reporting period represented 57% of the total. The region issued US$ 29 billion in green, social, sustainability and sustainability-linked bonds in internatio…

United States economic outlook: first half of 2024

14 Oct 2024 | Publication

The United States economy expanded at an annualized rate of 3.0% in the second quarter of 2024 —more than double the 1.4% GDP growth recorded in the first quarter and well above the economy’s long-term growth potential—, driven primarily by consumer spending. The resilience of consumer spending has been supported by receding inflation and a robust labour market. Inflation slowed to 2.5% in August 2024, the lowest level in more than three years. Employment has increased for 44 consecutive months, but the labour market is softening. The Federal Reserve announced an interest rate cut of 0.50% in …

Capital flows to Latin America and the Caribbean: first four months of 2024

25 Jun 2024 | Publication

Latin American and Caribbean issuers placed US$ 53 billion of bonds in international markets in the first four months of 2024. This total was 61.5% higher than in the same period in 2023. The market remained open to high-yield issuers from the region, but most of the region’s issuances (69%) came from the investment grade sector. After two consecutive years in which sovereign issuances surpassed the 50% mark, corporate bond issuances in the reporting period represented 58% of the total. The region issued US$ 13 billion in green, social, sustainability and sustainability linked bonds in interna…

United States economic outlook: 2023 year-in-review and early 2024 developments

30 Apr 2024 | Publication

United States gross domestic product rose by 2.5% in 2023. The above-potential growth was driven by resilient consumers, supported by a strong labour market and receding inflation. In 2023, 3 million new jobs were added on an annual basis, and the unemployment rate was 3.7% at the end of December. Inflation was reduced by half relative to 2022, declining from an annual rate of 8% in 2022 to 4.1% in 2023. Cognizant of the strength of the U.S. economy, the Federal Reserve is nevertheless adopting a “wait and see” approach rather than declaring an immediate end to its monetary tightening cycle, w…

Capital flows to Latin America and the Caribbean: first 10 months of 2023

28 Mar 2024 | Publication

Latin American and Caribbean bond issuance in international markets totalled US$ 76.4 billion in the first 10 months of 2023, rebounding from the low volumes recorded in 2022. This figure represented a 30% increase compared to the same period in 2022 and was 20% higher than the annual volume. Issuers that have been waiting for lower borrowing costs are gradually returning to the international market, as they anticipate the end to global interest rate hikes while accepting that rates may remain higher for longer. The region issued US$ 23.2 billion in international green, social, sustainability …

Capital flows to Latin America and the Caribbean: 2023 year-in-review and early 2024 developments

21 Mar 2024 | Publication

Latin American and Caribbean bond issuance in international markets totalled US$ 89 billion in 2023, 40% higher than the figure recorded in 2022, but still 35% lower than the average annual level in the three-year period from 2019 to 2021. The average coupon on the region’s bonds issued in international markets was 1.65 percentage points higher than in 2022. Indicating a strong start to the year, international bond issuance amounted to US$ 31.19 billion in January 2024, the region’s third-highest monthly total. In 2023, the region issued US$ 31 billion in green, social, sustainability and sust…

Sustainable bond issuances in international markets, 2014–2022: characteristics, trends and greenium in Latin America and the Caribbean

28 Dec 2023 | Publication

This document examines the evolution of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)’s international issuance of sustainable bonds —green, social, sustainability and sustainability-linked bonds (GSSS)— since the region’s first international green bond was issued in December 2014. Reaching a cumulative total international GSSS bond issuance of US$ 100 billion in the 2014-2022 period, four main trends are identified. First, the share of GSSS bonds in the region’s total international bond issuance has increased significantly, jumping from less than 1% in 2018 to 32% in 2022. Second, while initially most…

United States economic outlook: third quarter of 2023

27 Dec 2023 | Publication

The United States economy expanded by 5.2% in the third quarter of 2023, the fastest pace in nearly two years. Consumer spending was the main driver of economic growth in the quarter, followed by accumulation of private inventories. The third quarter marked the fifth consecutive quarter of growth above the economy’s potential. Labour market growth remained solid, with 2.6 million jobs added from January to November 2023, but is easing. Inflation is also gradually slowing. Despite interest rate hikes in 2022 and in the first half of 2023, the United States economy —supported by a strong job mar…

From legislation to implementation: building a new industrial policy in the United States

21 Dec 2023 | Publication

This document examines the implementation strategies and execution challenges of three major pieces of legislation that were signed into law in the United States in late 2021 and in 2022. Together they provide more than US$ 2 trillion in authorized funding and incentives for up to ten years to rebuild the country’s infrastructure, accelerate the transition to a green economy, and strengthen the domestic semiconductor industry while promoting job growth, workforce development, and equity. The scale of these laws, given the level of funding required, their complexity, given the multiplicity of g…

United States-Latin America and the Caribbean Trade Developments 2023

10 Nov 2023 | Publication

United States trade in goods fell by 3.9% year-on-year in the first six months of 2023, ending a recovery that started in 2021. This was a result of goods exports declining by almost 1% and goods imports by 6.3%. In contrast, in 2022, United States services trade reached a record high, with US$ 697 billion in imports and US$ 929 billion in exports. United States-Latin America and the Caribbean Trade Developments provides an overview of selected developments in trade relations between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean. In light of the global focus on the climate crisis and t…

165 search results. Displaying 20 per page.