North Miami-Dade News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairwoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) sent a letter to President Biden urging him to include Argentina in the list of countries that make up the Administration’s initiative to increase engagement in the region: the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP).

"Argentina has not only demonstrated its willingness to partner with the United States on economic matters but also remains dedicated to upholding the principles our society values: individual liberty, economic freedom, and the rule of law. Argentina is one of our strongest allies in the region. Without including the Argentines, it will be difficult to achieve the goals set out in APEP," wrote Chairwoman Salazar.

She added, "Today, in Latin America, there is no president with a more pro-freedom agenda than President Javier Milei. President Milei is working to turn around years of economic failure in a country with tremendous but wasted potential. Your signature Latin America initiative needs pro-American voices in the region like Argentina and Paraguay in order to prosper."

Earlier this year, Chairwoman Salazar introduced the Americas Act to unleash the economic potential of the Western Hemisphere. Beginning with a list of countries identified for inclusion in APEP (Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay), the Americas Act aims to expand the benefits of the USMCA trade agreement to nations that share U.S. values in the region.

Congresswoman Salazar has previously requested that the Biden Administration include another U.S. ally, Paraguay, in the list of APEP countries as well.

The Americas Act is currently Congress's only major economic strategy for the region. The legislation seeks to bolster economic alliances within the Western Hemisphere and bring jobs back to the United States.