Central Louisiana News

President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic endorsed the Americas Act during a keynote address at the 27th Annual CAF Conference. The legislation, introduced earlier this year by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO), along with U.S. Representatives Maria Salazar (R-FL-27) and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), aims to strengthen economic and national security by establishing a permanent trade partnership across the Western Hemisphere while countering China's influence in the region.

“A crucial component to strengthen the economies of the region would be the approval of the Americas Trade and Investment Act. A bill that is still waiting to be passed by the U.S. Congress. This legislative package is a resource that could transform the economic relationships in the Americas by promoting integration and improving commercial ties, facilitating near-shoring of key industries to our region,” said President Abinader.

The Americas Act has also been endorsed by U.S. Southern Command Commander General Laura Richardson and former National Security Council senior director Mauricio Claver-Carone.

Cassidy will discuss the Americas Act at the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit on September 23rd in a fireside chat alongside Paraguayan President Santiago Peña.

Introduced in March 2024, Cassidy, Bennet, Salazar, Espaillat, and former House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mike Gallagher outlined their vision for transforming economic relationships within the hemisphere through an op-ed in Fox News Digital.

With more than 60 million Americans of Hispanic descent, making it one of the largest Spanish-speaking countries globally, proponents argue that hemispheric collaboration can enhance food production and critical mineral supplies sufficient for all countries involved.

Last year, Cassidy and Bennet discussed their proposal with members of the Council of the Americas, emphasizing a need for reimagined U.S.-Latin America policies through mechanisms such as expanding USMCA standards and establishing an investment corporation to drive economic development across Latin America.

Support from Latin American leaders followed shortly after introducing last year's discussion draft, highlighting its potential transformational impact on Western Hemisphere relations.

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