USDA sends trade mission to Southeast Asia

Six state agriculture departments and 21 agribusinesses and organizations will travel to Southeast Asia March 9-13 to expand export opportunities.    The U.S. Department of Agriculture will lead a group of six state agriculture departments and 21 agribusinesses and organizations on a trip to Southeast Asia March 9-13 to expand export opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
   “U.S. agricultural exports to Southeast Asia have been on the rise thanks to strong economic growth and increasing demand for high-value products in the region,” said USDA Underscretary Michael Scuse, who will lead the trip, in a statement. “With this growth expected to continue, the region holds significant untapped market potential for U.S. exporters.”
   The delegation, which includes firms and trade groups such as Case New Holland, Consolidated Grain and Barge Co., Nebraska Farm Bureau and USA Rice Federation, will travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Manila, Philippines, and will also meet with potential customers from Burma and Thailand while in Kuala Lumpur.
   Malaysia, the Philippines, Burma and Thailand are already strong trading partners of the United States. U.S. food and agricultural product exports to the four countries have doubled over the past five years from $2.7 billion in fiscal year 2009 to $5.4 billion in 2014, according to USDA.
   The next USDA trade mission will take place June 1-5 to Panama and the Dominican Republic.