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# Bolivia

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Learn More								U.S. Relationship																									These are excerpts from the U.S. Relations With Bolivia																			-  												U.S.-Bolivia Relations											 
-  												Bilateral Economic Relations											 
													U.S.-Bolivia Relations													The United States established diplomatic relations with Bolivia in 1849 following its independence from Spain.  Beginning in 2008, the Bolivian government’s decisions to expel the U.S. ambassador, U.S. law enforcement, and development cooperation agencies strained the bilateral relationship between the United States and Bolivia.  Despite these challenges, the United States maintains a strong and respectful relationship with theThe United States established diplomatic relations with Bolivia in 1849 following its independence from Spain.  Beginning in 2008, the Bolivian government’s decisions to expel the U.S. ambassador, U.S. law enforcement, and development cooperation agencies strained the bilateral relationship between the United States and Bolivia.  Despite these challenges, the United States maintains a strong and respectful relationship with the Bolivian people, with whom we work to advance human rights, entrepreneurship, and cultural and educational initiatives.  The United States celebrated the democratic success of Bolivia’s October 2020 elections and expressed our best wishes for a productive, mutually respectful relationship with the current administration.  However, the United States remains concerned by anti-democratic actions and the politicization of the legal system. 
Bolivia remains the third largest producer of cocaine in the world and  produces well above Bolivia’s own-sanctioned limit of 22,000 hectares (ha), according to White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime coca estimates.  In 2017, Bolivia changed the General Law on Coca (Law 906), which regulates the domestic market for the traditional and medicinal use of coca, increasing licit coca production from 12,000 ha to 22,000 ha. 
Collapse U.S.-Bolivia Relations															Read more about U.S.-Bolivia Relations																												Bilateral Economic Relations													The United States is an important trade partner for Bolivia, with about $1 billion in bilateral goods trade in 2022.  The United States and Bolivia do not have a free trade agreement.  U.S. exports to Bolivia include mineral oils/fuels, plastic materials, food preparations, halogenated olefins, heavy machinery, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals.  The United States is Bolivia’s fifth largestThe United States is an important trade partner for Bolivia, with about $1 billion in bilateral goods trade in 2022.  The United States and Bolivia do not have a free trade agreement.  U.S. exports to Bolivia include mineral oils/fuels, plastic materials, food preparations, halogenated olefins, heavy machinery, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals.  The United States is Bolivia’s fifth largest import market and eleventh export market.  U.S. imports from Bolivia include raw tin, mineral ores, cereals, nuts, and tungsten. 
The Bolivian government generally allows foreign direct investment.  An investment promotion law adopted in 2014 guarantees equal treatment for national and foreign firms, but stipulates that public investment has priority over private investment (both national and foreign).  Under the law, the Bolivian government will determine which sectors require private investment.  Bolivia abrogated its Bilateral Investment Treaties with the United States and multiple other countries in 2012.  From 2008 to 2016, the Bolivian government nationalized numerous companies that had been privatized in the 1990s.  U.S. foreign direct investment in Bolivia is about $430 million, mainly in the oil and gas and manufacturing sectors.  Weak judicial recourse, corruption, and unclear investment incentives make investment in Bolivia challenging.  The U.S. – Bolivia Air Transport Agreement from 1947 remains in force with multiple amendments. Throughout the last decade, Bolivia has experienced positive economic growth, but it remains one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. 
Collapse Bilateral Economic Relations															Read more about Bilateral Economic Relations															Integrated Country Strategies
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COVID-19 Vaccine Deliveries
Since July, 2021 the United States has donated **5,750,820** safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Bolivia. This includes 4,742,820 Pfizer and 1,008,000 J&J doses. Of the 5,750,820 vaccine doses, 100% were donated in partnership with COVAX.

The United States is committed to leading an international and coordinated effort to accelerate access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to meet global needs. The United States is working with other governments and partners including COVAX, Caricom, and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to protect communities from COVID-19 and apply lessons from this pandemic to enhance health security now and in the future.

Learn more about our work Delivering Vaccines and on COVID-19 Recovery.
More Vaccine Deliveries HighlightsFebruary 29, 2024
La Paz, Bolivia: American Cooperative School: 2024 Special Needs Profile
February 29, 2024
Santa Cruz, Bolivia: Santa Cruz Cooperative School: 2024 Special Needs Profile
October 30, 2023
Santa Cruz, Bolivia: Santa Cruz Cooperative School: 2023-2024 Fact Sheet
October 30, 2023
La Paz, Bolivia: American Cooperative School: 2023-2024 Fact Sheet
August 6, 2023
Bolivia National Day
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