It wasn't so long ago that Latin America was an engine of economic growth, selling materials and foodstuffs across the oceans, most notably to Asia. Then China's economy slowed down, so the demand for the resources like iron ore and coal shrank. Then the U.S. dollar rallied and capital fled emerging markets for the U.S.
Unfortunately, the prospects for a return to fast growth are dim, at least for the foreseeable future. Dr. Win Thin, global head of emerging markets at Brown Brothers Harriman, explains why in this video.