Landlocked, Not Limited: Bolivia's Trade Playbook with Gissela Medina Morales

Bolivia lost its access to the Pacific Ocean over a century ago, and that single geographic fact still shapes every trade decision the country makes. In this episode, host Sergio Lewis talks with Gissela Morales Medina, an international trade expert who has worked across Bolivia's private export sector, the American Chamber of Commerce, the Embassy of India, and international development programs with the Netherlands. Gissela breaks down what Bolivia actually exports and imports, from zinc, tin, and soy to untapped lithium and rare earth reserves, and explains why being a landlocked country forces exporters to become strategic problem solvers. She shares what it was like leading the American Chamber of Commerce in Bolivia during a politically tense period under Evo Morales, why international development programs often fall short on measurable market results, and what foreign investors need to understand before entering the Bolivian market. This conversation covers international trade, export strategy, emerging markets, near-shoring, US-Bolivia trade relations, and the mineral and rare earth agreements shaping Bolivia's economic future. Whether you work in international business, trade policy, or export development, this episode offers a grounded, firsthand look at how trade actually works on the ground.