Guatemala City

Migrants from this country, living mostly in the U.S., sent some $7.1 billion in remittances home in 2016—around 10% of gross domestic product. Apparel and textile exports totaled more than $1.4 billion last year, making fabric production and clothing assembly the largest export industry. This is a poor nation, but without migration to the U.S. and trade, it would be a lot poorer.

Yet many Guatemalans I spoke with here last week are not dreading an anti-immigrant, protectionist Donald Trump in the White House. They’re focused on the exit of Barack Obama, whose foreign policy they saw as politicized in favor of left-wing causes and environmental extremism that harm Guatemalan development.

The U.S. wields significant influence in Central America and its opinions are heard by those in power in these small countries. The hope here and throughout Latin America is that Mr. Trump’s presidency will reverse eight years of a State Department agenda that has promoted big government, redistributionist policies and politics instead of growth.

The complaints extend beyond a difference of opinion about the role of the state. During the Obama years Uncle Sam repeatedly backed those who flouted the rule of law in the name of “social justice.”