El Universal: Latin American and Caribbean countries trade surplus with the United States dropped 15% in May compared to April, and stood at $3.38 billion, reported on Friday the Department of Commerce.

In the first five months of the year, the region's surplus totaled $15.65 billion, which is 61.2% 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 $968 million in April to $1.27 billion in May. In the first five months of the year, Venezuela's surplus totaled $5.34 billion, compared to $15.58 billion between January and May 2008, Efe reported.

http://english.eluniversal.com/2009/07/10/
en_eco_esp_venezuelas-trade-su_10A2481405.shtml