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

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…

United States-Latin America and the Caribbean Trade Developments 2025

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 …

Revista CEPAL Nº 146

Enhancing data for development: policy imperatives for tracking the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean. Policy Brief

For small island developing States (SIDS), sustainable development is a delicate balance of pursuing economic growth, social development and environmental stewardship in the context of economic volatility, social challenges, climate change threats and global uncertainties while striving to build resilience. Recognized as a special case for development since the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, SIDS remain highly vulnerable to external shocks due to their small economies, limited connectivity and reliance on external markets. Over the years, global frameworks such …

Cadenas de valor y empleo inclusivo en América Latina

Este análisis, que parte del entendido de que los países de América Latina tienen modalidades heterogéneas de inserción internacional, describe la participación de siete países de la región (Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, México y Perú) en las cadenas globales de valor y compara el patrón de empleo derivado de esa participación con el asociado al comercio tradicional y la demanda interna. Se analizan los temas de empleo y remuneraciones, y la relación con el valor agregado, el tipo de ocupación y las brechas de género. A partir de la construcción de una base de datos con infor…

Valor agregado inducido en el comercio intracentroamericano: análisis comparativo de las matrices de insumo-producto de Centroamérica (2011 y 2018)

El objetivo de este documento es analizar el nivel y la evolución de la integración de los países centroamericanos a partir de sus encadenamientos productivos, mediante el estudio de los indicadores de especialización vertical subregional, con el fin de detectar las ramas de actividad con mayor potencial para generar valor y dinamizar las economías a nivel nacional y regional. Dichos indicadores se estimaron a partir de las matrices de insumo-producto de Centroamérica de 2011 y 2018 elaboradas por la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL). A partir del análisis del comerci…

CEPAL Review No. 145

Revista CEPAL Nº 145

Assessment Of The Forum For East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) Project: Support the strengthening of policies to monitor and promote the participation of MSMEs in cross-border goods and services e-commerce for an inclusive and sustainable...

United States-Latin America and the Caribbean Trade Developments 2024

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…

CEPAL Review No. 144

Revista CEPAL Nº 144

Reflections from the Chinese perspective on Sino-Brazilian cooperation in the twenty-first century

Sino-Brazilian cooperation has advanced rapidly in the twenty-first century. Although its successes have made it a model for South-South cooperation, the relationship also faces many challenges. This study focuses on the trade imbalance and the resultant risk of “deindustrialization” for Brazil, proposing that fostering technology transfer in the context of investments and situating Chinese companies in Brazil are two ways to mitigate its negative effects. However, the main response to these challenges is well-defined, comprehensive development planning by the Brazilian State with a strong com…

Reflexiones sobre la cooperación chino-brasileña en el siglo XXI desde la perspectiva china

La cooperación entre China y el Brasil ha tenido un rápido desarrollo en el siglo XXI. Si bien por los logros obtenidos se ha convertido en un modelo de la cooperación Sur-Sur, la relación también enfrenta numerosos desafíos. Este estudio está centrado en el desequilibrio del intercambio y el consecuente riesgo de “desindustrialización” del Brasil y en él se propone fomentar la transferencia tecnológica entre las inversiones y la localización de empresas chinas como dos formas de mitigar los efectos negativos. Sin embargo, la respuesta fundamental ante estos desafíos consiste en una planificac…