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1 1 (January 22, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govebhc0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Updated January 22, 2019 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 being a major trading partner and source of foreign investment for many Latin American and Caribbean 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 legal and illegal; geographic proximity and economic and security conditions are major factors driving migration trends. Curbing the flow of illicit drugs from Latin America and the Caribbean has been a key component of U.S. relations with the region and a major interest of Congress for more than three decades. In recent years, the United States has engaged in close security cooperation with Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean to combat drug trafficking and related violence. Although most countries in the region have made enormous strides in terms of democratic political development since the 1980s, many countries in the region still face considerable challenges. Cuba remains under authoritarian rule, although the government transitioned to a new president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, in 2018. Undemocratic practices have risen in in Venezuela, which most observers view as a dictatorship under President Nicolas Maduro, and Nicaragua, which has grown violently repressive under President Daniel Ortega. High rates of crime and violence afflict a number of countries; in some, journalists and human rights and environmental activists have been targeted. High-profile corruption scandals have stirred strong anti-corruption sentiment throughout the region and helped to fuel the election of populist presidents from the left and right, respectively, in Mexico (Andres Manuel L6pez Obrador) and Brazil (Jair Bolsonaro). Obama Administration Policy In its policy toward the region, the Obama Administration set forth a broad framework centered on promoting economic and social opportunity, ensuring citizen security, strengthening effective democratic governance, and securing a clean energy future. It emphasized partnership and shared responsibility, with policy conducted through engagement and dialogue. The Obama Administration provided significant support to combat drug trafficking and organized crime and to advance citizen security. Efforts included a continuation of long-standing support to Colombia through Plan Colombia and its successor programs: the Merida Initiative, begun in 2007 to support Mexico; the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI), begun in 2008; and the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), begun in 2009. On trade matters, the Obama Administration resolved outstanding congressional concerns related to FTAs with Colombia and Panama, which led to congressional enactment of legislation for the two FTAs in 2011. In 2015, the Administration also concluded negotiations for the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement that included Mexico, Chile, and Peru, among other nations. In the absence of congressional action on comprehensive immigration reform, President Obama turned to executive action in 2012 with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA), which provided relief from deportation for certain immigrants who arrived as children. Among other significant policy changes, the Obama Administration launched a major policy shift toward Cuba in late 2014, moving away from the long-standing sanctions-based approach toward a policy of engagement. While the Administration pressed for dialogue in Venezuela, it also imposed targeted sanctions in 2015 on those involved in human rights abuses. Spurred by a surge of unaccompanied children and other migrants from Central America, the Administration developed a broader approach in 2015 known as the U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America to improve security, strengthen governance, and promote prosperity. Trump Administration Policy Under the Trump Administration, the outlook for U.S. relations with Latin America and the Caribbean has changed. In February 2018, the State Department set forth a framework for U.S. policy toward the region focused on three pillars for engagement-economic growth and prosperity, security, and democratic governance. Although the framework reflects continuity with long-standing U.S. policy priorities for the region, it also appears to be at odds with the Administration's actions, sometimes accompanied by tough rhetoric, on foreign aid, trade, and immigration. The Administration's proposed foreign aid budgets for FY2018 and FY2019 would have significantly cut assistance to the region by 36% and 35%, respectively, compared with FY2017. Negative views of U.S. leadership in the region have increased markedly over the past two years, influenced by disparaging political rhetoric and certain actions on immigration and trade. Such views could affect the willingness of some countries to cooperate with the United States on regional and global challenges. However, some observers believe the election of conservative governments in several Latin American countries could lead to increased cooperation with the region. On trade, President Trump ordered U.S. withdrawal from the proposed TPP in January 2017; the TPP would have increased U.S. economic linkages with several countries in the region. The President strongly criticized the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada, warned that the United States might withdraw :tps://c rsrepo rtsco nqrossqgov

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