Elizabeth Morgan | Can Jamaica build strong partnerships in Latin America?

Looking at Prime Minister, Dr Andrew Holness’ recent statement at the International Economic Forum for Latin America and Caribbean held in Panama on January 28, and recent Gleaner editorials on building partnerships as a response to changes in the global economy, led to a review of an article of this column from July 1, 2020 on CARICOM’s trade with Latin America. A lot has changed since 2020. It is doubtful that one can assess that Jamaica’s relationship with countries in Latin America has improved to give one much confidence that partnerships can be strengthened or built. Latin America here refers to the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries in North, Central and South America.

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

Jamaica has diplomatic relations with all of the 17 Latin countries in North, Central and South America. However, now, Jamaica only has resident representation in Mexico. Jamaica’s ambassador to Mexico is also non-resident representative to countries in Central America. Jamaica had an embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, from about the late 1960s, having established diplomatic relations with Venezuela in 1965. Jamaica announced the temporary closure of this embassy in 2019. In 2012, Jamaica opened an embassy in Brasilia, Brazil. This embassy was closed in 2021. There was a proposal to have some level of diplomatic or consular presence in Panama but this has not materialized. Jamaica has an office in Bogota, Colombia, but this seems more like an honorary consul.

Thus, technically, Jamaica currently has no resident diplomatic presence in Central and South America. Some Latin countries still have embassies in Kingston.

BILATERAL TRADE

Jamaica trades with most of the countries in Latin America under the rules of the World Trade Organization. Jamaica also participated with CARICOM in negotiating bilateral free trade agreements with Venezuela in 1992, Colombia in 1994, and Costa Rica in 2004. The PetroCaribe Agreement with Venezuela, besides petroleum, had a goods trade component. These trade agreements have been underutilised.

The relationship with Venezuela now seems dormant especially since the US removal of President Nicolás Maduro. The agreement with Colombia is being re-negotiated for a while now to upgrade it. It is not clear how much progress has been made.

Jamaica’s trade with these 17 Latin American countries has not improved much. Trade Map has no trade recorded between Jamaica and Venezuela in 2024. Mexico’s exports to Jamaica in 2024 is given as US$102 million, and its imports US$52, 000. The Central American countries collectively, exported US$321.2 million in goods to Jamaica but imported about US$13.5 million. The South America countries, in 2024, collectively exported goods valued at US$489.2 million to Jamaica and imported about US$1.5 million. Thus, there is a huge trade deficit between Jamaica and countries in Latin America.

On trade in services, primarily tourism, it was reported in 2025 that visitor arrivals to Jamaica from counties in South America were increasing. In July 2025, it was reported that COPA airlines had increased flights into Jamaica from Latin America, and LATAM airlines had non-stop flights from Peru. There were also charter flights out of Ecuador. The idea was that Jamaica would be aiming to diversify its tourism markets by promoting the country in Latin America. Recall that there is a Jamaican diaspora in Central America.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

To do more business with countries in Latin America, Jamaica would need to also promote proficiency in Spanish. The impression has been that the Spanish hotel chains in Jamaica have been employing staff from Latin countries in the Caribbean. It was proposed for years that Spanish should be a second language in Jamaica. This has not happened. Spanish is still identified in Jamaica as a barrier to trade.

CELAC

The Community of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (CELAC) was founded between 2009-2011 to operate separately from the Organization of American States, which is US-dominated, and to include all countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, such as Cuba. CARICOM is represented on its bureau. It was to promote economic and political collaboration among the countries.

At the moment, CELAC seems quite impotent. When they met under the presidency of Honduras in March 2025, they could not find consensus on an outcome document and certainly could not come up with a response to US President Donald Trump. Today, the president is Gustavo Petro of Colombia and the summit should be held in Colombia between March-April this year. The region is now divided between those on the right, who support President Donald Trump, and those on the left, as well as those who fear Donald Trump. There seems to be a swing towards the right in Latin America.

In addition, President Trump has made it clear that he has updated the Monroe Doctrine, adding the Trump Corollary, declaring the Western Hemisphere as the US’ sphere of influence. The US has, with its military, brought about leadership change in Venezuela, killed alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean, imposed raised tariffs, and is now using coercive tariffs to prevent oil sales to Cuba with the intent of toppling that regime. Latin America has been the victim of US coercive policies before.

CELAC has cooperation with the European Union. Their 4th summit was held in November 2025. CELAC also cooperates with China and their 4th Ministerial meeting was held in May 2025.

President Petro met with President Donald Trump about two weeks ago and described their meeting as having an optimistic and constructive tone. It remains to be seen whether the CELAC summit will be held and whether there will be an agreed outcome document.

ACS

The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) was established in 1994 and is headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago. It has 25 member countries bordering the Caribbean Basin. Its aim is to promote consultation, cooperation, and concerted action among all the members. It is stated that the five main purposes of the ACS are to promote increased trade, enhance transportation, develop sustainable tourism, facilitate more effective responses to local natural disasters, and to preserve and conserve the Caribbean Sea. It is possible that not many people have heard of the ACS, as its operation seems quite low key.

It remains to be seen what kind of partnership can be built within Latin America and the Caribbean in this time of Donald Trump. We also have to be convinced that there is a partnership in CARICOM.

Elizabeth Morgan is a specialist in international trade policy and international politics. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.