By Julia Flores-Robleto, Spanish Language Assistant

November 8th was a historic day in the United States of America. The world is holding its breath after the results of the election. Trump is a man with radical ideas and holds an anti-immigrant position fueled by xenophobia. Despite this, he managed to receive millions of votes. Donald Trump became the President of the United States of America.

What are the reactions of countries around the world?

The reactions are different throughout the world, and there are many questions that arise. Will Trump hold to his anti-immigrant rhetoric in a country built throughout its history by immigrants? What will his relationship with Latin America be? And, in the case of Nicaragua, what actions will be taken against a government whose authoritarian stance has been heavily criticized by Washington D.C.

For Nicaraguans, there are three uncertain and important topics following the results of the recent election in the United States of America:

I. Free trade agreement

The United States of America is the main trading partner with Nicaragua. During his electoral campaign, Trump emphasized that he would review free trade policies. Trump will question free trade agreements between Central America, The Dominican Republic, and The United States of America, known as DR- CAFTA.

These free trade agreements have had many repercussions on the Nicaraguan economy. The private business sector in Nicaragua is awaiting the measures that Trump will implement with respect to these free trade agreements.

II. Economic remittances

The United States of America is the main source of remittances for Nicaragua. Remittances is the money sent back to Nicaragua by people living in The United States of America. The remittances represent 6% of the gross domestic product. Approximately 400,000 Nicaraguan immigrants live in The United States of America.

The remittances could be threatened by Trump’s anti-immigrant stance, which could affect the flow of remittances to Nicaragua.

III. International loans for Nicaraguan government

The administration led by Trump could oppose the approval of loans to the Nicaraguan government that fluctuate between $250 million and $300 million per year. Trump could accelerate the economic sanctions by which the American government would prevent international disbursement of these loans to the government of Daniel Ortega, president of Nicaragua.

These sanctions, if imposed, will only be suspended when Nicaragua has a fair and transparent electoral process.

These are the three important concerns of Nicaraguans now that Trump is the president of The United States of America.

Finally, like the rest of the countries around the world, Nicaragua is awaiting the decisions that Trump will implement as president and how these decisions will affect Nicaragua.