From the Editor

Dear Readers, Welcome to the first issue of The International Trade Journal (ITJ)’s thirtyseventh volume, our annual special issue containing selected papers from the Western Hemispheric Trade Conference. The 26 Annual Conference was sponsored by Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), the A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business, and the Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade, in partnership with the Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas (UAT) Facultad de Comercio, Administración y Ciencias Sociales. The conference was held between April 6 April 8, 2022. Participants presented 87 papers in 24 in-person and online sessions. Electronic proceedings were also published, and the best papers were selected for this special issue of The International Trade Journal. The 26 Annual Conference kicked off on Wednesday, April 6th, with a keynote address by Jason Marczak, Senior Director of the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center at the Atlantic Council. His keynote address was entitled “The New U.S.-Latin America Relationship: Where are We Headed?” During his talk, Mr. Marczak touched on many important questions about the region. First, he argued that the region is changing rapidly. Some of these changes are due to COVID-19, which will continue to be an issue throughout the region, especially for poorer households. He argued that the pandemic exacerbated many of the region’s problems including inequality, poverty, and corruption. Another important change is the rise of populism throughout the region, potentially undermining democracy. Second, he noted that China is playing an increasingly active role in the region including in trade, infrastructure investment, and even vaccine diplomacy. This has allowed countries to reorient their economies and politics away from the United States. Given increased tensions between the United States and China, China’s growing importance in the region is likely to present some new challenges for the US. He argued that one thing the US could do to deal with the challenge from China would be to make more US investment available. Third, he argued that the US has many untapped opportunities to work with countries in the region and that US policy will need to adapt. He noted that many countries have become frustrated with US policy, which is often seen as scattershot and focused on US