HomeCountries & Areas…Bolivia hide Bolivia Subscribe View Fact Sheet Embassies & Consulates Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs International Travel Information What you need to know before you go: visas, Embassy & Consulate locations, vaccinations, etc. International Travel Information: Learn More Current Travel Advisories Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution 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 the 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 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 largest 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 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 The Integrated Country Strategy is the four-year strategy articulating U.S. priorities in a given country. The Chief of Mission leads the strategy. View Integrated Country Strategies Investment Climate Statements The Investment Climate Statements analyze a variety of economies that are or could be markets for U.S. businesses and provide information on the business climates. View Investment Climate Statements Discover More 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report View all Department Reports and Publications 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 Highlights February 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 VIEW ALL NEWS Tags Bolivia Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs