Two months after Nicolás Maduro’s kidnapping, the people of Venezuela are hoping that Donald Trump’s US administration will lead the country out of its economic and political isolation. This presents great opportunities for German industry.

Legislative proposals for the treaty have been submitted to the Mercosur parliaments. In Brazil, the agricultural sector wants improvements, and Argentina has concluded a trade agreement with the US that conflicts with the agreement with the EU.

The economic outlook for 2026 is stable and slightly positive. Politically, the continent is facing a change of direction due to several elections. The influence of geopolitics is likely to increase further.

The US is attempting to reassert its influence in the region in order to counter China’s massive engagement. The impact this will have on European companies remains to be seen.

Brussels has initiated the ratification process for the trade agreements with Mercosur and Mexico. The chances are good that this will be completed before the end of this year.

It is still unclear where the US customs policy toward the region will ultimately lead. The future of the EU’s free trade agreements with Latin America also remains open.

The country produces almost a third of its energy in agriculture. This makes it an attractive location for sustainable value creation.

The port of Chancay in Peru could become a key driver for the development of cross-border infrastructure. Chinese investment is playing an important role in this.

Trump has “only” imposed the reciprocal minimum tariff of 10 percent on almost all South American countries. What is the reason for this and what consequences could it have for the region?

Even if he will still change his customs policy, the damage has already been done: Investors are unsettled and will reduce their investments in the country. This will affect German companies in particular.