Caracas, Venezuela. October  18,  2013 . Headquarters of the Permanent Secretariat of SELA Andrés Bello Conference Room Avenida Francisco de Miranda, Torre Europa, 5th floor, Campo Alegre.

The economic relations of our region with the United States have traditionally been a subject of study and continuous analysis for the Member States of SELA, in the area of the external relations of Latin America and the Caribbean.

SELA has conducted several studies on the evolution and trends of the region’s relations with the United States. The most recent ones were entitled “U.S. economic relations with Latin American and Caribbean countries in a time of transition” (SP/Di Nº 4-12), submitted in March 2012, and “The impact of U.S. economic trends and policy on Latin American and Caribbean countries” (SP/SR: RE-EE.UU-ALC-DPAAO/DT N° 2-11), dated March 2011.

Following up this subject, Decision No. 535 of the XXVIII Latin American Council – held in October 2012 – included in the Work Programme of the Permanent Secretariat for 2013 Activity III.1.1. “Permanent analysis of the dynamics and trade policies of the United States and their impact on Latin American and Caribbean countries. Prospects for relations in the context of the global post-crisis scenario”.

In compliance with this mandate, the Permanent Secretariat is convening the Regional Meeting: “The United States economic relations with Latin America and the Caribbean. Status and prospects,” to be held on 18 October at its headquarters. In order to support the exchange of ideas and proposals, the Permanent Secretariat is submitting the document “Recent evolution of bilateral relations between Latin America and the Caribbean and the United States” (SP/SRREEUALC/DT N° 2-13).