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 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, and U.S. Free Trade Agreements with Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Panama.
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 and the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement.
U.S.-Western Hemispheres Trade Facts
U.S. goods and services trade with Western Hemisphere totaled an estimated $1.9 trillion in 2019. Exports totaled $937 billion; imports totaled $948 billion. The U.S. goods and services trade deficit with Western Hemisphere totaled $11 billion in 2019.
U.S. Goods trade with Western Hemisphere totaled $1.5 trillion in 2019. Goods exports totaled $711 billion; goods imports totaled $786 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Western Hemisphere totaled $75 billion in 2019.
Trade in services with Western Hemisphere (exports and imports) totaled an estimated $388 billion in 2019. Services exports totaled $226 billion; services imports totaled $161.8 billion. The U.S. services trade surplus with Western Hemisphere totaled $64 billion in 2019.
Exports
- U.S. goods exports to Western Hemisphere in 2019 totaled $710.8 billion, down 2.5 percent ($18.6 billion) from 2018 but up 61 percent from 2009. U.S. exports to Western Hemisphere account for 43.3 percent of overall U.S. exports in 2019.
- The top five U.S. export markets to the Western Hemisphere for 2019 were: Canada ($292.6 billion), Mexico ($256.6 billion), Brazil ($42.9 billion), Chile ($15.7 billion), and Colombia ($14.7 billion).
- The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2019 were: machinery ($106.6 billion), mineral fuels ($106.3 billion), electrical machinery ($79.3 billion), vehicles ($78.5 billion), and plastics ($36.1 billion).
- U.S. total exports (domestic exports plus re-exports) of agricultural products to Western Hemisphere totaled $58.4 billion in 2019. Leading domestic export categories include: corn ($4.8 billion), prepared food ($3.5 billion), dairy products ($3.1 billion), pork & pork products ($2.8 billion), and soybeans ($2.6 billion).
- U.S. exports of services to Western Hemisphere totaled an estimated $226.0 billion in 2019, 1.5 percent ($3.5 billion) less than 2018, but 57 percent greater than 2009 levels. Leading services exports from the U.S. to western Hemisphere were in the travel, transportation, and financial services sectors.
Imports
- U.S. goods imports from Western Hemisphere totaled $786.3 billion in 2019, up 0.1 percent ($1.1 billion) from 2018, and up 54 percent from 2009. U.S. imports from Western Hemisphere account for 31.5 percent of overall U.S. imports in 2019.
- The top five import suppliers from Western Hemisphere for 2019 were: Mexico ($357.8 billion), Canada ($319.4 billion), Brazil (30.8 billion), Colombia ($14.2 billion), and Chile ($10.4 billion).
- The top import categories (2-digit HS) in 2019 were: vehicles ($155.9 billion), mineral fuels ($122.2 billion), machinery ($92.3 billion), electrical machinery ($74.9 billion), and special other (imports of articles exported an returned) ($28.9 billion).
- U.S. total imports (general definition) of agricultural products from Western Hemisphere totaled $72.5 billion in 2019. Leading categories include: other fresh fruit ($11.4 billion), fresh vegetables ($8.7 billion), snack foods ($7.5 billion), processed fruit & vegetables ($4.8 billion), and wine and beer ($4.8 billion).
- U.S. imports of services from Western Hemisphere totaled an estimated $161.8 billion in 2019, 6.1 percent ($9.3 billion) more than 2018, and 31 percent greater than 2009 levels. Leading services imports from Western Hemisphere to the U.S. were in the travel, insurance services, and transportation sectors.
Trade Balance
- The U.S. goods trade deficit with Western Hemisphere totaled $75.4 billion in 2019, a 35.4 percent increase ($19.7 billion) over 2018.
- The United States has a services trade surplus of an estimated $64.2 billion with Western Hemisphere in 2019, down 16.6 percent ($12.7 billion) from 2018.
Investment
- Reported U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Western Hemisphere (stock) totaled $1.3 trillion in 2019, a 0.2 percent decrease from 2018. U.S. direct investment in Western Hemisphere is led by nonbank holding companies, finance and insurance, and manufacturing.
- Western Hemisphere's reported FDI in the United States (stock) totaled $689.5 billion in 2019, up 15.6 percent from 2018. Western Hemisphere's direct investment in the U.S. is led by manufacturing, finance and insurance, and real estate.
