By Godson Umejiego, Bureau Chief, The Americas

The US Department of Agriculture’s Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor has arrived in Panama City to launch a regional agribusiness trade mission. Taylor and her delegation of representatives from 26 agribusiness and farm organizations and two state departments of agriculture look to develop stronger ties and build economic partnerships between the United States and Panama and markets throughout the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) region.

“Panama and our partners throughout the CAFTA-DR region offer the US agriculture industry great opportunities to export its world-class products,” said Taylor. “I’m excited to introduce the diverse group of US agribusinesses and industry officials joining me in Panama City to buyers from around the region. Agricultural product exports to Panama and the CAFTA-DR member countries topped US$8.8 billion in 2022, supporting the record US$196 billion in total agricultural exports from the United States last year. I’m confident the next few days will produce mutually beneficial results to help expand trade and increase collaboration on key issues impacting agriculture in the United States and Central America.”

This week, local staff from FAS Panama City will host business meetings between US trade mission delegates and companies from Panama and Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, seeking to import American food and farm products. The trade mission itinerary also includes bilateral meetings with the Panamanian government officials, retail promotions featuring US products, and a memorandum of understanding signing between the US Grains Council and the Panamanian Sugar Cane National Industry on ethanal blending.