Economy
Latin American and Caribbean countries trade surplus with the United States dropped 15 percent in May compared to April, and stood at USD 3.38 billion, reported on Friday the Department of Commerce.

In the first five months of the year, the region's surplus totaled USD 15.65 billion, which is 61.2 percent less than the surplus recorded in the same period of 2008.

Excluding México and Venezuela, both oil exporting countries -the former is a partner of the United States and Canada in the North American Free Trade Agreement- and Colombia, the rest of the region reported in May a deficit in the trade balance with the United States.

Venezuela's trade surplus with the United States increased from USD 968 million in April to USD 1.27 billion in May. In the first five months of the year, Venezuela's surplus totaled USD 5.34 billion, compared to USD 15.58 billion between January and May 2008, Efe reported.