Americas

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 $1.7 trillion in 2011. Exports totaled $817 billion; Imports totaled $865 billion. The U.S. goods and services trade deficit with the Western Hemisphere was $47 billion in 2011.

The United States has $1.4 trillion in total (two ways) goods trade with Western Hemisphere countries during 2011. Goods exports totaled $646 billion; Goods imports totaled $751 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with the Western Hemisphere was $105 billion in 2011.

Trade in services with the Western Hemisphere (exports and imports) totaled $285 billion in 2011. Services exports were $171 billion; Services imports were $113 billion. The U.S. services trade surplus with the Western Hemisphere was $58 billion in 2011.

Exports 

U.S. goods exports to the Western Hemisphere in 2009 were $441.5 billion, down 19.2% ($104 billion) from 2008. U.S. exports to the Western Hemisphere accounted for 41.8% of overall U.S. exports in 2009.

The largest export markets are: Canada ($204.7 billion), Mexico ($129.0 billion), Brazil ($26.2 billion), Colombia ($9.5 billion) and Chile ($9.4 billion).

The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2009 were: Machinery ($72.3 billion), Electrical Machinery ($55.8 billion), Vehicles ($45.7 billion), Mineral Fuel and Oil ($31.6 billion), and Plastic ($23.3 billion).

U.S. exports of agricultural products to the Western Hemisphere countries totaled $37.7 billion in 2009. Leading categories include: coarse grains ($3.6 billion), red meats, fresh/chilled/frozen ($2.7 billion), snack foods (excluding nuts) ($2.0 billion), fresh fruit ($1.9 billion), soybean meal ($1.8 billion), soybeans ($1.8 billion), and fresh vegetables ($1.7 billion).

U.S. exports of private commercial services* (i.e., excluding military and government) to the Western Hemisphere were $139.8 billion in 2008 (latest data available), up 7.6% ($9.9 billion) from 2007.

Imports 

U.S. goods imports from the Western Hemisphere totaled 509.1 billion in 2009, down 28.8% ($206 billion), from 2008. U.S. imports from the Western Hemisphere accounted for 27.6% of overall U.S. imports in 2009.

The largest country supplier of imports are: Canada ($224.9 billion), Mexico ($176.5 billion), Venezuela ($28.1 billion), Brazil ($20.1 billion), and Colombia ($11.3 billion).

The five largest categories in 2009 were: Mineral Fuel and Oil (crude oil) ($140.5 billion), Vehicles ($58.9 billion), Electrical Machinery ($55.9 billion), Machinery ($42.1 billion), and Special Other (returns) ($14.2 billion).

U.S. imports of agricultural products from the Western Hemisphere countries totaled $39.4 billion in 2009. Leading categories include: fresh fruit (excluding bananas)($4.2 billion), fresh vegetables ($4.1 billion), snack foods, (including chocolate) ($3.6 billion), processed fruit and vegetables ($2.7 billion) and coffee (unroasted) ($2.6 billion).

U.S. imports of private commercial services* (i.e., excluding military and government) were $93.5 billion in 2008 (latest data available), up 6.8% ($6.0 billion) from 2008.

Trade Balances 

The U.S. goods trade deficit with the Western Hemisphere was $67.6 billion in 2009, a 59.8% decrease ($100.6 billion) over 2008. The U.S. goods trade deficit with the Western Hemisphere accounted for 13% of the overall U.S. goods trade deficit in 2009.

The United States had a services trade surplus of $46 billion with the Western Hemisphere countries in 2008 (latest data available).

Investment 

U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Western Hemisphere Countries (stock) was $791.1 billion in 2008 (latest data available), up 6.5% from 2007.

The Western Hemisphere Countries FDI in the United States (stock) was $271.1 billion in 2008, up 2.8% from 2007 (latest data available).

Further Information

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

Other Americas 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.