USTR's Office of the Western Hemisphere is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring U.S. trade policy in the Western Hemisphere.

The Office leads the negotiation and implementation of U.S. trade agreements in the Western Hemisphere, and oversees the administration and operation of these agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, and U.S. Free Trade Agreements with Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Panama. It also leads policy development and coordination of Trans-Pacific Economic Partnership (TPP) negotiations as they relate to countries in the Western Hemisphere.

The Office of the Western Hemisphere also manages U.S. trade relations with the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM), including bilateral trade councils with Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. In addition, it oversees U.S. trade preference programs in the region, including the Caribbean Basin Initiative, the Andean Trade Preference Act and the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement.

U.S.-Western Hemispheres Trade Facts

U.S. goods and services trade with the Western Hemisphere totaled $1.8 trillion in 2014 (latest data available for goods and services trade). Exports totaled $928 billion; Imports totaled $917 billion.  The U.S. goods and services trade surplus with the Western Hemisphere was $11 billion in 2014.

The United States has $1.4 trillion in total (two ways) goods trade with Western Hemisphere countries during 2015.  Goods exports totaled $669 billion; Goods imports totaled $705 billion.  The U.S. goods trade deficit with the Western Hemisphere was $37 billion in 2015.

Trade in services with the Western Hemisphere (exports and imports) totaled $318 billion in 2014 (latest data available). Services exports were $193 billion; Services imports were $125 billion.  The U.S. services trade surplus with the Western Hemisphere was $68 billion in 2014.

According to Department of Commerce, U.S. exports of Goods and Services to Western Hemisphere supported an estimated 3.5 million in jobs in 2014 (latest data available) (2.9 million supported by goods exports and 659 thousand supported by service exports).

Exports

• U.S. goods exports to the Western Hemisphere in 2015 were $668.5 billion, down 9.1% ($66.8 billion) from 2014. U.S. exports to the Western Hemisphere accounted for 44.4% of overall U.S. goods exports in 2015.
   

• The largest export markets are: Canada ($280.0 billion), Mexico ($236.4 billion), Brazil ($31.7 billion), Colombia ($16.5 billion), and Chile ($15.6 billion).
   

• The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2015 were: Machinery ($105.3 billion), Electrical Machinery ($79.1 billion), Vehicles ($75.3 billion), Mineral Fuel and Oil ($73.6 billion), and Plastic ($35.6 billion).
   

• U.S. domestic exports of agricultural products to the Western Hemisphere countries totaled $52.0 billion in 2015.  Leading categories include: corn ($4.4 billion), prepared food ($3.3 billion), soybean meal ($2.7 billion), dairy products ($2.5 billion), pork and pork products ($2.5 billion), fresh fruit ($2.4 billion), poultry meat ($2.3 billion), and beef and beef products ($2.3 billion).
   

• U.S. exports of services to the Western Hemisphere were $192.9 billion in 2014 (latest data available), down 0.6% ($1.2 billion) from 2013, but up 125% from 2004.

Imports

• U.S. goods imports from the Western Hemisphere totaled $705.4 billion in 2015, down 11.0% ($86.7 billion), from 2014. U.S. imports from the Western Hemisphere accounted for 31.5% of overall U.S. goods imports in 2015.
   

• The largest country suppliers of imports are: Canada ($295.2 billion), Mexico ($294.7 billion), Brazil ($27.4 billion), Venezuela ($15.6 billion), and Colombia ($14.1 billion).
   

• The five largest categories in 2014 were: Vehicles ($130.6 billion), Mineral Fuel and Oil (crude oil) ($118.6 billion), Electrical Machinery ($73.2 billion), Machinery ($70.8 billion), and Special Other (returns) ($25.0 billion).
   

• U.S. consumption of imports of agricultural products from the Western Hemisphere countries totaled an estimated $62.1 billion in 2015.  Leading categories include: fresh fruit (excluding bananas) ($7.7 billion), fresh vegetables ($6.7 billion), snack foods, (including chocolate) ($5.6 billion), processed fruit and vegetables ($4.0 billion), and coffee, unroasted ($4.0 billion).    
   
• U.S. imports of services were $125.1 billion in 2014 (latest data available), up 1.1% ($1.3 billion) from 2013, and up 63% from 2004.

Trade Balances

• The U.S. goods trade deficit with the Western Hemisphere was $36.9 billion in 2015, a 35.0% decrease ($19.9 billion) over 2014.  The U.S. goods trade deficit with the Western Hemisphere accounted for 5.0% of the overall U.S. goods trade deficit in 2015.
   
• The United States had a services trade surplus of an estimated $67.8 billion with the Western Hemisphere countries in 2014 (latest data available), down 3.6% from 2013.

Investment

• U.S. Reported foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Western Hemisphere Countries (stock) was $1.3 trillion in 2014 (latest data available), up 3.5% from 2013.
   
• U.S. direct investment in the Western Hemisphere countries is led by the nonbank holding companies, finance/insurance, and manufacturing sectors.
   
• The Western Hemisphere Countries FDI in the United States (stock) was $388.3 billion in 2014 (latest data available), up 10.5% from 2013.
   
• Western Hemisphere countries’ FDI in the Unites States is led by the manufacturing, finance/insurance, and banking sectors.

 Further Information

Click on a side tab for information on trade with countries of the Western Hemisphere.

Other Western Hemisphere information can be found under Trade Agreements and under Trade Topics/Preference Programs.

NOTE: Refers to private services trade not including military sales, direct defense expenditures, and other miscellaneous U.S. government services.