USDA leads trade mission to Peru

USDA leads trade mission to Peru    The U.S. Department of Agriculture will lead representatives from 20 U.S. companies on an agribusiness trade and development mission to Lima, Peru, through Thursday.
   The representatives will meet with 150 Peruvian and Ecuadorian companies to develop business ties and explore opportunities for joint ventures.
   “Both countries have experienced a decade of political, social and economic change that has created a dynamic environment for economic growth. Both are keen on expanding trade and investment with the United States, as well as with other Pacific-Rim countries through the Trans-Pacific Partnership to which the United States is a party,' said Acting Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse, in a statement. 'This mission provides an excellent opportunity for U.S. agribusinesses to make contacts, exchange information, and sign sales agreements.”
   The U.S. companies represent a range of food and agricultural products from bulk commodities to consumer-ready food products, as well as transportation and logistics providers, agricultural equipment suppliers, and clean energy manufacturers.
   Since full implementation of the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement in February 2009, two-way agricultural, fish and forest trade has grown from $1.4 billion in fiscal year 2009 to $1.8 billion in fiscal 2010 — a jump of 31 percent, U.S. exports of agricultural, fish, and forest products alone expanded by 70 percent during this period, USDA noted.
   Two-way agricultural, fish and forest trade with Ecuador has remained relatively steady at $1.8 billion in fiscal 2010 compared to $1.7 billion in fiscal 2009.