Uruguay Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in uruguay, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
Select Country Guide
Market Opportunities
Last published date:

Uruguay has well-functioning democratic institutions and relatively low levels of corruption. In 2024, Uruguay was ranked 13 out of 180 countries for lowest level of perceived corruption by Transparency International. The country boasts a strong banking sector adhering to international financial standards, and it is strategically located in the region with political and economic stability. The current administration maintains open trade policies and sound macroeconomic strategies.

Following the 2024 national elections and since inauguration in March 2025, the new administration under President Orsi has expressed a strong desire to collaborate closely with the United States on various regional and bilateral issues, including energy and space. The government is exploring potential commercial space port development and is taking a balanced approach to energy development, supporting both fossil fuels and renewable energy projects. This includes ongoing support for offshore oil and gas projects and exploring the potential for gas imports.

Macroeconomic stability and innovation are key focuses for the administration. Efforts are being made to break down barriers to innovation, lessen the regulatory burden, and reform investment regimes to attract greater foreign and domestic investment. The administration is also prioritizing the growth of the IT services sector, which is closely tied to the United States, and aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by streamlining bureaucratic procedures and cutting red tape. Uruguay continues to signal a strong openness to bilateral cooperation with the United States and plans to build on previous U.S.–supported policies.

Uruguay has quietly established itself as a reliable logistics and distribution hub in South America – an asset that should not be overlooked as the United States seeks to strengthen the security and resiliency of its supply chains. Please refer to Transportation and Logistics Services for more information. 

×

Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

Privacy Program | Information Quality Guidelines | Accessibility