The United States had reached a commercial agreement with Britain in 1815, but that agreement excluded British possessions in the Western Hemisphere. In response to United States pressure, the British had begun to allow a limited amount of American imports to the West Indies in 1823, but United States leaders continued to seek an end to Britain's protective Imperial Preference system.[142] In 1825, Britain banned United States trade with the British West Indies, dealing a blow to Adams's prestige.[143] The Adams administration negotiated extensively with the British to lift this ban, but the two sides could not reach an agreement.[144] Despite the loss of trade with the British West Indies, the other commercial agreements secured by Adams helped expand the overall volume of United States exports.[145]

Latin America
Aside from an unsuccessful attempt to purchase Texas from Mexico, President Adams did not seek to expand into Latin America or North America.[146] Adams and Clay instead sought engagement with Latin America to prevent it from falling under the British Empire's economic influence.