The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has announced a trade mission to Guatemala City scheduled for March 3-7, 2025. Applications for participation are due by December 3, 2024. This mission aims to deepen trade ties with Guatemala, which is the largest economy in Central America and is projected to continue its economic growth [9c864b40]. In 2023, Guatemala imported $1.7 billion in U.S. agricultural products, making it the top market in the region, followed by Honduras and El Salvador, which imported $1.3 billion and $800 million, respectively [9c864b40].
The trade mission will include business-to-business meetings and market briefings, providing participants with opportunities to explore export markets for various products, including poultry, pork, beef, consumer foods, condiments, soups, bakery goods, chocolate, and alcoholic beverages [9c864b40]. This initiative aligns with the ongoing efforts of U.S. states like Iowa and South Dakota, which have been actively engaging in international trade missions to bolster their agricultural exports and strengthen economic ties with Latin American countries [434055b1].
Iowa recently completed a trade mission to Colombia, where a delegation led by Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Grant Menke focused on promoting Iowa's agricultural products and exploring new export opportunities. The state exported $549 million in goods to Colombia in 2022, with key exports including corn, pork, and beef [434055b1]. Similarly, South Dakota is investing $1 million in a public-private partnership to enhance its overseas sales and support job creation through exports, highlighting the importance of trade for the state's economy [c0d106cc].
As these states continue to expand their international trade efforts, the upcoming USDA trade mission to Guatemala presents a significant opportunity for U.S. agricultural producers to tap into a growing market in Central America. The Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, which will phase out remaining tariffs by 2025, further enhances the potential for increased trade relations in the region [9c864b40].