North Miami-Dade News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On August 23, 2024, The Hill published a joint op-ed by Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairwoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO), emphasizing the importance of strengthening U.S. partnerships in Latin America.

Representative Maria Salazar (FL-27) and Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) argue that as China's influence grows globally, it is crucial for the U.S. to enhance strategic partnerships within the Western Hemisphere to shift supply chains away from China.

"Several Latin American governments have seen a dramatic shift in leadership, electing leaders whose values align more closely with our own here at home," they wrote. "Our improved ties with these nations will act as a crucial counterbalance to China, promoting our national and economic security."

The op-ed highlights China's significant investments in Latin America over recent decades, noting that trade between China and Latin America increased from $12 billion in 2000 to $450 billion in 2022. This surge has positioned China as the region's top economic partner.

"As China works to entrap these nations with debt and boondoggle infrastructure investments, the U.S. should pursue mutually beneficial economic relationships in the region," they stated.

Salazar and Smith advocate for U.S. trade policies that reward countries aligning with American values rather than those of communist China. They cite recent legislation passed by the Ways and Means Committee to renew the Generalized System of Preferences with reforms aimed at supporting fair treatment of U.S. agricultural exports and excluding nations with strong ties to China.

"These reforms are common-sense and designed to foster relationships with good-faith economic partners while countering China’s influence," they wrote.

Domestically, they stress reducing reliance on Chinese imports for critical goods such as medicine and food by reshoring supply chains into the Western Hemisphere. They call for legislative measures to address abuses of trade enforcement measures by Chinese companies.

"Our philosophy is simple: We must build, supply and manufacture what we can here at home, and what we can’t needs to be moved into ally nations closer to home," they emphasized.

Furthermore, Salazar and Smith propose expanding existing agreements like the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to open new markets for American-made products within Latin America.

"Latin American leaders have made clear that they would prefer to work with the U.S. as opposed to communist China," they concluded. "We must show that we are with them in both words and deeds."

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