About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

1 1 (October 20, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govdcbk0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Updated October 20,2020 Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy Overview U.S. interests in Latin America and the Caribbean are diverse and include economic, political, security, and humanitarian concerns. Geographic proximity has ensured strong economic linkages between the United States and the region, with the United States a major trading partner and source of foreign investment for many countries. Free-trade agreements (FTAs) have augmented U.S. economic relations with 11 countries in the region. The Western Hemisphere is a large source of U.S. immigration, both leg aland illegal; with proximity and economic and security conditions the major factors driving migration trends. Curbing the flow of illicit drugs fromLatin America and the Caribbean has been a key component of U.S. relations with the region for decades. The flow of illicit drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl from Mexico and cocaine fromColombia, poses risks to U.S. public health and safety. Since 2000, Colombia has received support through Plan Colombia and its successor programs. For over a decade, the United States also has sought to forge partnerships with other countries to combat drug trafficking and related violence and to advance citizen security, including through the M6rida Initiative, begun in 2007 to support Mexico; the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI),begunin 2008; and the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), begun in 2009. Another long-standing component of U.S. policy is support for democratic governance and the rule of law. U.S. policy efforts have supported democracy promotion, including support for strengthening civil society and promoting human rights and therule of law. Over the past several years, thequality of democracy has eroded in numerous countries, along with public satis faction with how democracy is working. Venezuela has des cended into a dictatorship under Pres ident Nicold s Maduro, and Cuba and Nicaragua are ruled by authoritarian governments repressing the political opposition. In 2019, many countries in the region experienced social unrest fueled by political factors such as fraudulent elections, weak democratic in s titutions, politicized judicial systems, public corruption scandals, high levels of crime and violence, and organized crime's effect on state institutions. Economic factors such as declining or stagnant growth rates, high levels of income inequality, and increased poverty also increased social pressure. In 2020, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having widespread economic, social, and political effects in the region. As of October 19,2020, the region had over 10.4 million cases (over 26% of cases worldwide) and over 379,000 deaths (34% of deaths worldwide), according to Johns Hopkins University. Brazil, Mexico, and Peru were among the 10 countries worldwide with the highest numbers of deaths. Before thepandemic, the International Monetary Fund projected a regional economic growthrate of 1.6% in 2020, but its revised forecast fromOctober 2020 projects an 8.1% economic contraction for the year. According to a July 2020 U.N. report, as a result of the pandemic, 45 million people will likely move into poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2020. Many countries may struggle with protracted recoveries. (Also seeCRS In Focus IF 1581, Latin America and the Caribbean: Impact ofCO VID-1 9.) Under the Trump Administration, U.S. relations with Latin America and the Caribbean generally have moved toward a more confrontational approach, especially regarding efforts to curb irregular immigration from the region, compared with the approach of past Administrations, which emphasized partnership. In 2018, the State Department set forth a framework for U.S. policy toward the region focusedon three pillars for engagement-economic growth and prosperity, security, and democratic governance. The framework reflects continuity with long-standing regional U.S. policy priorities, but it appears at odds with the Administration's sometimes antagonistic actions and statements on immigration, trade, and foreign aid. According to Gallup and Pew Research Centerpolls, negativeviews of U.S. leadership in the regionhave increased markedly during the Trump Administration. Foreign Aid. The Administration's foreign aid budgets for the region would have cut assistance levels by more than a third in FY2018 and FY2019 and by 30% in FY2020. Congress essentially rejected those requests byproviding significantly more assistance in appropriations measures. In 2019, the Trump Administration withheld some assistance to the Northern Triangle countries of Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) to compel governments to curb theflowof migrants to the United States. The FY2021 request of $1.4 billion would cut aid to the region by 18%, but a large proposed increase to support a potential democratic transition in Venezuela masks larger cuts for many countries andprograms. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as of August 2020, U.S. agencies allocated $141 million in new and previously announced ass is tance to help the region respond to the pandemic. Trade. In 2017, President Trump ordered U.S. withdrawal from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) TA negotiated in 2015 by 12 Asia-Pacific countries; the TPP would have increased U.S. economic linkages with Chile, Mexico, and Peru, which were parties to the agreement. The President s trongly criticized the North AmericanFree Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada, repeatedly threatened U.S. withdrawal, and initiated renegotiations in 2017. The three countries agreed in 2018 to a new United States -Mexico -Canada Agreement (USMCA), which A A '2 k w-I y\

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most