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Trade Americas

Trade Americas

Welcome to Trade Americas!

The U.S. Commercial Service helps U.S. business export goods and services to markets worldwide. The Trade Americas program brings together the resources of U.S. Commercial Service offices in 21 markets throughout the region, providing your company with a single point of access to regional trade events, our extensive services, and research covering markets throughout the region.

The Trade Americas site provides information on the existing and proposed free trade agreements throughout the region, market research, best prospects in the region, trade event lists, industry-specific information, business service providers, useful links and key contacts.     

Featured Events

CAFTA-DR Business Development MissionThe Central American and Caribbean region represents a great opportunity for U.S. companies that wish to launch or increase their current sales in these growing markets.   Join Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez as he leads a delegation of U.S. businesses on a CAFTA-DR Business Development Mission to Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua September 29-October 4, 2008Learn more…

Map of the Caribbean IslandsThe American Franchise Forum in the Caribbean will take place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 23-24, 2008. U.S. Franchisors will have a very unique opportunity to develop markets in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean by participating in this forum.  Learn more... 

2008 U.S. Department of Commerce Trade Mission to PanamaPanama is booming with development and represents an excellent opportunity for U.S. exporters. Panama's economy grew at an astounding 11.5 percent in 2007 and U.S. exports to Panama increased by 38.2 percent between 2006 and 2007. The pending U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement and the Panama Canal expansion project offers tremendous commercial opportunities for U.S. firms. Join the 2008 U.S. Department of Commerce Trade Mission to Panama, October 26-29, 2008Learn more...

Featured Markets

CAFTA-DR Free Trade AgreementCAFTA-DR creates the second-largest U.S. export market in Latin America, behind only Mexico, and the 13th largest U.S. export market in the world (or the 9th largest if the European Union is considered a single destination). The United States exported $19.6 billion in goods to the five Central American countries and the Dominican Republic in 2006, more than all exports to Russia, India, and Indonesia combined.  Learn more…

Panama CanalPanama has historically served as the crossroad of trade for the Americas. Today, the country is not only a maritime shipping and air transport hub, but also an international trading, banking, and services center. Trade liberalization and privatization over the last several years, along with the hemispheric movement toward Free Trade Agreements, while still in progress, will inevitably increase Panama's global, regional and sub-regional prominence. Learn more... 

Spotlights 

Commerce - AACCLA Western Hemisphere Country Fact SheetsThe U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration and the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA) compiled fact sheets that provide snapshots of U.S. contributions to the prosperity of Western Hemisphere countries.  Learn more…

Getting Paid by Your Latin American BuyerGetting Paid by Your Latin American Buyers
Latin America and the Caribbean is a large and natural market for U.S. exporters due to the region’s geographic proximity. However, many U.S. exporters are unsuccessful in selling to Latin America or increasing their exports to the region, frequently due to the payment terms they demand of their Latin American buyers.  This guide identifies the main financing and payment mechanisms available to support U.S. exporters selling to Latin America in general and to understand the costs, advantages, and disadvantages of each mechanism.  Learn more...   

Country Information

Learn more about how we can help you increase export sales to these markets:

Argentina Barbados Bolivia Brazil
Canada Caribbean Central America Chile
Colombia Costa Rica Dominican Republic          Ecuador
El Salvador Guatemala                 Honduras Jamaica
Mexico Nicaragua Panama Peru
Trinidad and Tobago      Uruguay Venezuela