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Issue Brief

Mar 26, 2025

Trade with Colombia is big business for US exporters—amid growing Chinese influence in Latin America

By Geoff Ramsey, Enrique Millán-Mejía

The United States maintains a trade surplus with Colombia, which is also the top destination for US agricultural exports in South America. However, growing Chinese influence and political tensions threaten the bilateral relationship. To protect mutual economic interests, the United States can leverage diplomatic channels and private sector engagement.

Colombia Economy & Business
Facade of the Palace of Justice in the main square of Bogota, Colombia with the caption "Colombians, weapons gave you independence, laws will give you freedom."

Report

Jul 31, 2024

Justice Fair Play Initiative: The key to improving justice delivery in Colombia

By Juan Carlos Botero, Tania Luna Blanco, Astrid Liliana Sánchez-Mejía, Carlos Andrés Uribe Piedrahíta, Nicolás Cabra Ruiz, Natalia Correa Sánchez, Geoff Ramsey, Isabel Chiriboga, and Enrique Millán-Mejía

An accessible judicial system is crucial in countering global threats to democracy by enabling swift and fair dispute resolutions. This study demonstrates that such system can reduce uncertainty and create an environment conducive to investment and sustainable economic development.

Colombia Latin America

New Atlanticist

May 7, 2024

Colombia’s president must focus on economic stewardship in the second half of his term

By Enrique Millán-Mejía, Geoff Ramsey

President Gustavo Petro should adopt a steadier hand on domestic issues and a more cooperative stance toward international private sector investment.

Colombia Economy & Business

Enrique Millán-Mejía is a senior fellow for economic development at the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center (AALAC). In this role, he leads the center’s work on economic security in the Western Hemisphere, the US-Dominican Republic Economic Advisory Group, health economics, and multilateral economic development organizations, with an emphasis on Latin America.

Originally from Colombia, Millán-Mejía has more than twenty years of experience in international trade, government affairs, business development, and project management. Millán-Mejía previously served as senior trade and investment representative for Colombia’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism to the United States at the Colombian Embassy in Washington, D.C. In this role, he was responsible for implementing the US–Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement and helped secure sanitary and phytosanitary market access for Colombian agricultural goods. He also led efforts to increase US foreign direct investment in Colombia, expand non-mining Colombian exports to the United States, and liaising with US congressional offices on trade and economic issues related to Colombia. He also engaged with US corporations with existing investments in Latin America.

Millán-Mejía joined the Atlantic Council in 2022 as a consultant for AALAC, where he helped manage Colombia Program projects, including the Justice Fair Play Initiative. He also advised the US–Colombia Advisory Group on trade and investment issues. Additionally, he worked on the center’s partnership with the UN Women Multi-Country Office in the Caribbean, which focuses on addressing the root causes of gender-based violence and promoting women’s economic empowerment in Guyana and Jamaica.

Millán-Mejía is fluent in Spanish and English. He holds a BA in business administration (management and economics) from Universidad Católica de Pereira in Colombia and an MBA in international business and management from the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University.