11.3 Contemporary U.S. Policy: Trade, Security, and Migration

U.S. policy in Latin America focuses on trade, security, and migration. Trade agreements like NAFTA aim to boost economic integration, while security cooperation tackles drug trafficking and organized crime. Migration policies prioritize border control and regulated worker entry.

These policies reflect broader shifts in U.S.-Latin American relations since the Cold War. Economic liberalization and democratization became key goals, alongside evolving security concerns like counterterrorism. The impacts on Latin America have been mixed, affecting development, human rights, and regional dynamics.

Pillars of U.S. Policy in Latin America

Trade Agreements and Economic Integration

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• The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) enacted in 1994 created a trilateral trade bloc between the United States, Canada, and Mexico reducing tariffs and trade barriers
  • NAFTA was renegotiated and replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in 2020
• The U.S. has pursued bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements with Latin American countries to promote economic integration and market access
  • Examples include the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) and the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement

Security Cooperation and Counter-Narcotics Efforts

• The Merida Initiative launched in 2007 is a security cooperation agreement between the U.S. and Mexico aimed at combating drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, and money laundering
  • Provides training, equipment, and intelligence sharing
• Plan Colombia initiated in 2000 provided U.S. military and economic assistance to Colombia
  • Combats drug production and trafficking
  • Supports counterinsurgency efforts against left-wing guerrilla groups
  • Promotes economic development and institution-building

Migration Management and Border Security

• U.S. migration policy towards Latin America has focused on border security, deterrence, and deportation particularly along the U.S.-Mexico border
  • Policies such as the Secure Fence Act of 2006 and the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) have sought to reduce irregular migration and asylum claims
• Temporary worker programs such as the H-2A and H-2B visas have allowed for the regulated entry of Latin American workers in agricultural and non-agricultural sectors to meet U.S. labor demands

U.S. Foreign Policy in the Post-Cold War Era

Shifting Priorities and Economic Liberalization

• The end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked a shift in U.S. foreign policy priorities
  • The threat of communist expansion in Latin America diminished
  • Focus turned towards economic liberalization, democratization, and regional stability
• The Washington Consensus promoted by the U.S. and international financial institutions in the 1990s emphasized market-oriented reforms, privatization, and fiscal austerity as strategies for economic growth and development in Latin America

Evolving Security Concerns and Regional Challenges

• The War on Drugs launched in the 1970s but intensified in the post-Cold War era has shaped U.S. policy towards Latin America
  • Focuses on supply-side reduction strategies such as crop eradication, interdiction, and military assistance to combat drug production and trafficking
• The 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 led to a renewed emphasis on security cooperation and counter-terrorism efforts in U.S. foreign policy
  • Increased attention to issues such as border security, money laundering, and the nexus between drug trafficking and terrorism financing in Latin America
• The rise of left-wing governments in Latin America in the early 2000s (Venezuela under Hugo Chávez, Bolivia under Evo Morales) challenged U.S. hegemony in the region and led to tensions over issues such as trade, energy, and ideological alignment

Engagement and Partnership under the Obama Administration

• The Obama administration (2009-2017) sought to reset U.S.-Latin American relations through a policy of engagement and partnership
  • Emphasized shared responsibility, multilateralism, and cooperation on issues such as climate change, renewable energy, and educational exchanges

Implications of U.S. Policies for Latin America

Economic Development and Inequality

• Trade agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA-DR have had mixed effects on economic development in Latin America
  • Some countries experienced increased foreign investment, export growth, and job creation
  • Others faced competition from subsidized U.S. agricultural products, job losses in manufacturing, and widening income inequality
• The U.S. emphasis on neoliberal economic policies and conditional lending through international financial institutions has influenced the development strategies of Latin American countries
  • Often leads to reduced social spending, privatization of public services, and increased vulnerability to external shocks and financial crises

Security and Human Rights Concerns

• U.S. security policies such as Plan Colombia and the Merida Initiative have contributed to the militarization of the war on drugs in Latin America
  • Consequences include human rights abuses, displacement of rural communities, and the fragmentation of criminal organizations leading to increased violence and instability
• U.S. migration policies such as border enforcement and deportation have had significant human costs for Latin American migrants and their families
  • Includes family separation, detention, and exposure to violence and exploitation along migration routes

Regional Integration and Alternative Development Models

• U.S. support for regional integration initiatives such as the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and the Pacific Alliance has aimed to promote economic liberalization and expand markets for U.S. exports
  • Has faced resistance from Latin American countries seeking alternative models of integration based on solidarity, complementarity, and social inclusion
• U.S. policies towards Latin America have had differential impacts on human security
  • Some initiatives contribute to improved access to education, health care, and social protection
  • Others exacerbate inequality, marginalization, and vulnerability particularly for indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, women, and rural communities

Challenges and Opportunities for U.S.-Latin American Cooperation

Addressing Transnational Security Threats

• The complex and transnational nature of drug trafficking and organized crime requires a comprehensive and coordinated response from the U.S. and Latin American countries
  • Moves beyond a narrow focus on supply-side reduction and military intervention
  • Addresses the underlying social, economic, and institutional drivers of these problems
• Opportunities for cooperation on drug policy reform include:
  • Supporting harm reduction strategies
  • Promoting alternative development programs for coca and poppy farmers
  • Strengthening justice systems and the rule of law to combat corruption and impunity

Promoting Sustainable Development and Migration Management

• Addressing the root causes of migration such as poverty, inequality, and violence through targeted development assistance, institutional capacity-building, and support for local civil society organizations
  • Helps reduce pressures for irregular migration
  • Promotes sustainable livelihoods in Latin American countries
• Collaboration on climate change mitigation and adaptation presents an opportunity for the U.S. and Latin American countries to work together
  • Focuses on issues such as renewable energy, sustainable land use, and disaster risk reduction
  • Leverages the region's rich natural resources and traditional knowledge systems
• Challenges for cooperation on climate change include:
  • Overcoming political and economic barriers to the transition to low-carbon development models
  • Ensuring the equitable distribution of costs and benefits
  • Addressing the specific vulnerabilities and adaptation needs of marginalized communities in Latin America

Strengthening Regional Institutions and Stakeholder Engagement

• Strengthening regional institutions and mechanisms for dialogue such as the Organization of American States (OAS), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the U.S.-Mexico High-Level Economic Dialogue
  • Provides platforms for policy coordination, knowledge sharing, and joint action on transnational issues of common concern
• Engaging with diverse stakeholders including civil society organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector
  • Brings new perspectives, resources, and innovative solutions to the table
  • Helps build trust and legitimacy in U.S.-Latin American cooperation efforts