Link to article: https://latinamericanpost.com/economy-en/changes-in-us-latin-american-trade-to-counter-chinas-expansion/
United States lawmakers have introduced an initiative to improve trade relations for the Latin American region. The trade initiative is attempting to allow these countries to join the USMCA free trade agreement, allowing the region free trade with the three giants. This free trade would greatly increase the economic standing of the Latin American region. The initiative is specifically targeted in the manufacturing industry, this is likely so that American businesses can get outsourced labor. The bill for the initiative surprisingly had bipartisan support in both Congress and the Senate, showing that both parties recognize the importance of the initiative.
This initiative by the United States has several purposes, mainly expanding the economic standing of America with the other countries. However another large reason why the United States passed this bill, was in order to have control in the region after China’s recent advances. China has started sending aid to countries in Latin America, a very similar situation to how they gained influence over Africa. The United States is trying to prevent China from having any large influence over the western hemisphere. America’s initiative aims to ally with countries before China can, making the countries choose sides. It seems like a more covert version of what America did during the Cold War, forcing countries to choose sides in order to receive aid.
In international relations class, we have talked about the United States and how they handled the Cold War. The United States forced countries to choose sides between the United States or the Soviet Union for who they would join. If the country opted to side with the Soviet Union, then the United States would not provide aid or assistance to the country. If the country chose the United States over the Soviet Union then the United States would agree to send aid, protect sea travel, and be involved in industrialization. The United States won that Cold War, and I predict that they will probably win this one as well.