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Caribbean

U.S. Trade Policy and the Caribbean: From Trade Preferences to Free Trade Agreements

Posted Mon, 06/21/2010 - 23:00

For over 40 years, the United States has relied on unilateral trade preferences to promote export-led development in poor countries. Congressionally authorized trade preferences give market access to selected developing country goods, duty free or at tariffs below normal rates, without requiring reciprocal trade concessions, although their extension is conditioned on extensive eligibility criteria and the use of U.S. inputs in many cases.

Latin America and the Caribbean: Illicit Drug Trafficking and U.S. Counterdrug Programs

Posted Thu, 04/29/2010 - 23:00

Drug trafficking is viewed as a primary threat to citizen security and U.S. interests in Latin America and the Caribbean despite decades of anti-drug efforts by the United States and partner governments. The production and trafficking of popular illicit drugs--cocaine, marijuana, opiates, and methamphetamine--generates a multi-billion dollar black market in which Latin American criminal and terrorist organizations thrive. These groups challenge state authority in source and transit countries where governments are often fragile and easily corrupted.

Latin America and the Caribbean: Fact Sheet on Leaders and Elections

Posted Wed, 12/02/2009 - 00:00

This fact sheet tracks the current heads of government in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It provides the dates of the last and next elections for the head of government and the national independence date for each country.

Honduran-U.S. Relations

Posted Mon, 08/03/2009 - 23:00

The Central American nation of Honduras, one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, faces significant challenges in the areas of crime, human rights, and improving overall economic and living conditions. While traditional agricultural exports of coffee and bananas are still important for the economy, nontraditional sectors, especially the maquiladora, or export-processing industry, have grown significantly over the past decade. Among the country's development challenges are a poverty rate over 70%, high infant mortality, and a significant HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) "Swine Flu" Outbreak: U.S. Responses to Global Human Cases

Posted Sun, 07/19/2009 - 23:00

In April 2009, a novel influenza virus began to spread around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) refers to the virus as Influenza A(H1N1). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other Administration officials refer to it as 2009 H1N1 flu. Throughout this report, the virus is referred to as H1N1. Although H1N1 does not appear to be as lethal as H5N1 avian influenza, which reemerged in 2005, the virus is slightly more lethal than seasonal flu and it continues to spread.

Fifth Summit of the Americas, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, April 2009: Background, Agenda, and Expectations

Posted Tue, 06/02/2009 - 23:00

The fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago scheduled to be held on
April 17-19, 2009 will be the first hemispheric forum for President-elect Barack Obama to
engage with leaders from across Latin America and the Caribbean. The Port of Spain Summit will
also be the first meeting of all 34 democratic heads of government from Latin America, the
Caribbean, Canada, and the United States since the contentious 2005 Summit in Mar del Plata,
Argentina.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Posted Wed, 04/08/2009 - 23:00

This fact sheet tracks the current heads of government in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and provides the dates of the last and next election for head of government. It also provides the national independence date for each country.