U.S. ag exporters head to Peru, Chile

The United States Department of Agriculture said 34 agricultural exporters and trade association representatives will join Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on a trade mission March 14-18 to Peru and Chile.    The United States Department of Agriculture said 34 agricultural exporters and trade association representatives will join Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on a trade mission March 14-18 to Peru and Chile.
   The goal of the trip to expand U.S. agricultural export opportunities to these two South American countries, both of which are part of the recently completed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.
   “South America has been one of the fastest-growing world regions for exports of U.S. farm and food products, and Chile and Peru have been among the most rapidly growing markets in the region,” Vilsack said, adding that agricultural goods trade should greatly expand to these two markets once TPP is implemented.
   The trip will start in Peru, where U.S. agricultural exports have more than doubled since the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement entered into force in 2009.
   “The United States is already Peru’s top supplier of both bulk and consumer-oriented products as well as imported ethanol, and the country’s steady economic growth and expanding middle class point to further growth potential for U.S. exports across all sectors,” the Department of Agriculture said.
   Vilsack and the trade representatives will then travel to Chile, where many exports already benefit from duty-free market access under the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement.
   “Since the agreement was enacted in 2004, U.S. exports of agricultural and related products to Chile have grown nearly 600 percent, with the most significant increase being in high-value, consumer-oriented products. With rising consumer spending and the highest per-capita gross domestic product in South America, Chile holds many opportunities for U.S. exporters,” said USDA.
   The agriculture industry representatives cover a wide range of U.S.-grown commodities and products, including grains, livestock, produce, processed foods and beverages, sugar, cotton, lumber and ethanol.