Central America, Caribbean Are Poised for Change

The Central American and Caribbean economies have performed well in recent years, largely because of their dependence on and integration into the U.S. market. The region is projected to continue outperforming most of the rest of Latin America over the next few years, with the economic growth potential of the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Panama and Cuba standing out. Although many Central American and Caribbean countries also face economic challenges, such as the weakening of Venezuela's economy and the associated decline of the Petrocaribe program, these challenges will likely allow the United States to boost its commercial and political influence in the region in the coming years.