USDA Accepting Applications for Agribusiness Trade Mission to Guatemala

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service is accepting applications for a trade mission to Guatemala City, Guatemala, March 3-7, 2025. Current and potential U.S. exporters interested in participating should apply for consideration by December 3.

"We are excited to return to Guatemala after our successful 2018 mission," said Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitley. "This trade mission offers an ideal platform to deepen trade ties in the region."

Guatemala is the largest economy and population center in Central America, and projections suggest continued economic growth. In 2023, Guatemala imported $1.7 billion in U.S. agricultural products, and it became the top market in the region. Honduras and El Salvador imported $1.3 billion and $800 million, respectively. Under the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, all remaining tariffs will phase out by 2025 and further strengthen the position of U.S. products in the region.

The trade mission will provide participants with the opportunity to meet directly with buyers from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador through tailored business-to-business meetings. Foreign Agricultural Service staff and regional experts will also lead market briefings, site visits, and networking events.

Guatemala and its Central American neighbors are members of the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement and offer strong capabilities in logistics, distribution, processing, and cold chain management. Export opportunities exist in the following sectors:

• Poultry, pork, beef, and related products
• Dairy products
• Consumer and processor-oriented foods
• Condiments and sauces
• Soups and food preparations
• Fresh fruit
• Bakery goods, cereals, and pasta
• Chocolate and cocoa products
• Alcoholic beverages, including distilled spirits, wine, and related products

The deadline to apply for the Guatemala trade mission is Tuesday, December 3, 2024. For more information or to apply, visit https://fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions/guatemala-march-2025.

This will be the second USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission in 2025. USDA plans to lead additional missions to Côte d'Ivoire, the Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, Mexico, Peru and Taiwan. Application details for these missions will be announced in early 2025.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America's food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

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