U.S.-Latin American Trade: Recent Trends

Since congressional passage of Trade Promotion Authority TPA in August 2002 P.L. 107-210, the U.S.-Chile free trade agreement FTA has been implemented and negotiations have been concluded on the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement CAFTA. Congress will likely follow closely progress on other U.S.-Latin American trade initiatives, including new bilateral discussions begun with the Andean countries and Panama, and the Free Trade Area of the Americas FTAA, scheduled to be concluded in January 2005. Congress defined trade negotiation objectives in TPA and trade agreements are enacted only after Congress passes implementing legislation. This report supports the congressional role in trade policy by providing an analytical overview of U.S.-Latin American trade data and trends, and will be updated.