Bolivia Faces Tougher Times After FATF Grey List Decision

Bolivia now faces stricter rules from the world’s financial watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). On June 13, 2025, FATF put Bolivia on its “grey list” because the country did not fully fix its laws to stop money laundering and terrorist financing.

This move signals to banks and investors that doing business with Bolivia now carries more risk. When a country lands on the grey list, banks and companies must double-check transactions involving that country.

This makes borrowing money and doing international business harder and more expensive for Bolivia. The country already struggles with low cash reserves and a weak economy.

Major credit agencies, like Fitch Ratings, have recently downgraded Bolivia’s credit score, warning that it could have trouble paying its debts in the future.

Bolivia depends heavily on selling minerals, especially lithium, to other countries. Now, with the grey listing, it may become even harder for Bolivian companies to export and get paid.

The government tried to pass new laws to improve its financial system, but political disagreements stopped these changes. This failure played a big role in FATF’s decision.

Bolivia has promised to work with FATF and a regional partner to fix the problems. Still, until the country shows real progress, investors and businesses will likely stay cautious.

The grey list status is a clear warning: Bolivia needs to act fast to avoid more financial trouble and to regain trust from the world’s markets.