TRADE POLICY IN THE U.S. FOREIGN POLICY AGENDA TO LATIN AMERICA

Abstract

Although the western hemisphere has not been a priority on the U.S.’ foreign policy agenda, the article argues that the region has not been forgoten. The Bush administration’s trade policy makes economic, political and security interests converge, and the proliferation of free trade agreements is a main part of the U.S. agenda to the region. That agenda, however, had limited success and seemed to contribute to an image of Latin America and the Caribbean divided in two fields, one of attraction and another of refusal to the U.S. agenda. The article has an exploratory objective and is based on analysis of American official hearings and documents.