Geographically, Puerto Rico is part of the Megaregion called “The Americas,” which includes North America, Central America, South America, and The Caribbean Basin. Puerto Rico is located in the region of The Caribbean Basin, forming a key part of a broader region known as the Caribbean archipelago, between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The island’s landscape is highly diverse, with about 60% being mountainous, while other areas feature rainforests, deserts, and coastal plains, providing a rich variety of geographic features (Kiprop, 2018). Puerto Rico’s status as a U.S. territory significantly affects its trade agreements and international relationships. The United States has established several trade agreements that benefit Puerto Rico. For example, it takes part in the Caribbean Basin Initiative and free trade agreements with the Dominican Republic and other nations in Central America. The island’s main exports are goods like petroleum, motor vehicles, and medications, and its main trading partners are China, Canada, and Mexico (Puerto Rico: Trade profile, 2024). Given its unique location, Puerto Rico influences its trade relationships and is an important link between various regions for logistics and travel.
Strong ties exist between Puerto Rico and its Caribbean Sea neighbors (Pearl Nunez, 2024). However, Puerto Rico must obtain authorization from US authorities before entering into any new inter-reliability or trade agreements. (Puerto Rico: Trade profile, 2024). Puerto Rico is the first location in the U.S. to get a waiver from the Department of Transportation, enabling it to transport people and goods internationally. Furthermore, Puerto Rico is an important gateway for flights connecting the Americas with Europe and the Middle East (Logistics, 2024). Puerto Rico shows its geographical interdependence with other countries and regions by playing a major part in the larger network of trade and travel.
Figure 1: Map of Puerto Rico
