South American Trade Mission Building on Earlier Agreement
U.S. companies hope to develop trade with Peru and Ecuador.
Compiled by staff
Published: Feb 3, 2011
USDA Under Secretary of Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse is leading a trade mission to South America this week.
"We have about 20 United States companies down here in Lima to discuss trade and investment here," Scuse said. "We also have about 150 companies from Peru and Ecuador."
Scuse says the hope is to facilitate some trade between the three countries that would help agricultural producers. Products being discussed run the gamete from U.S. grains and processed products to South American coco, fish and fresh fruits and vegetables.
This mission is building on the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement that was signed in 2009. Since implementation two-way agricultural and forest trade has increased 31%.
"It's been very successful in a fairly short amount of time," Scuse said. "We've actually been able to double the trade between the countries."
U.S. exports of fish and forest products have increased by 70% over that time period, and Scuse says they've had some really good bilateral meetings with officials from Peru and Ecuador.
"I'm hopeful that there's going to be some things come out of these meetings that we'll be able to announce in the not too distant future," Scuse said.
Permalink: Click here
Tagged: usda
|