The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has announced a trade mission to Guatemala City, Guatemala, scheduled for March 3-7, 2025. This initiative aims to strengthen agricultural trade ties with Guatemala and neighboring Central American countries.
FAS Administrator Daniel Whitley expressed enthusiasm for the mission, stating, "We are excited to return to Guatemala after our successful 2018 mission. This trade mission offers an ideal platform to deepen trade ties in the region."
The mission comes at a strategic time, as Guatemala has emerged as the top market for U.S. agricultural products in Central America. In 2023, Guatemala imported $1.7 billion in U.S. agricultural goods, outpacing Honduras ($1.3 billion) and El Salvador ($800 million). The upcoming full implementation of the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement in 2025, which will eliminate all remaining tariffs, is expected to further boost U.S. exports to the region.
Participants in the trade mission will have the opportunity to engage in tailored business-to-business meetings with buyers from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. The program also includes market briefings, site visits, and networking events led by FAS staff and regional experts.
The USDA has identified several sectors with strong export potential, including poultry, pork, beef, dairy products, consumer and processor-oriented foods, fresh fruit, bakery goods, and alcoholic beverages. These opportunities are bolstered by the region's robust capabilities in logistics, distribution, processing, and cold chain management.
Interested U.S. exporters are encouraged to apply for the mission by December 3, 2024. More information and application details are available on the FAS website.
This Guatemala mission is part of a broader series of USDA Agribusiness Trade Missions planned for 2025, with additional destinations including Côte d'Ivoire, the Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, Mexico, Peru, and Taiwan. These missions underscore the USDA's commitment to expanding market access for U.S. agricultural products globally and fostering international trade relationships.
As the deadline approaches, the USDA anticipates strong interest from U.S. agribusinesses looking to explore new opportunities in Central America's growing markets. The success of this mission could pave the way for increased agricultural exports and strengthened economic ties between the United States and its Central American trading partners.
