USDA Acting Under Secretary Michael Scuse Leads Agriculture Trade and Investment Mission to Peru

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2011 -- USDA's Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse will lead 20 U.S. companies on an Agribusiness Trade and Investment Mission to Lima, Peru, Jan. 31-Feb. 3, 2011, to meet with 150 Peruvian and Ecuadorian entrepreneurs and buyers to develop business ties and explore opportunities for joint ventures. This trade mission meets one of the strategic priorities of President Obama's National Export Initiative, which aims to double U.S. exports in five years.

"Peru and Ecuador are important U.S. trade partners," said Scuse. "Both countries have experienced a decade of political, social and economic change that has created a dynamic environment for economic growth. Both are keen on expanding trade and investment with the United States, as well as with other Pacific-Rim countries through the Trans-Pacific Partnership to which the United States is a party. This mission provides an excellent opportunity for U.S. agribusinesses to make contacts, exchange information, and sign sales agreements."

The U.S. companies on the mission are both large and small, representing the full range of food and agricultural products from bulk commodities to consumer-ready food products, as well as transportation and logistics providers, agricultural equipment suppliers, and clean energy manufacturers. These U.S. companies will meet face-to-face with Peruvian and Ecuadorian producers, importers, buyers, distributors, and investors to develop trade relationships, propose joint activities, and learn best practices for working with one another.

Since full implementation of the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement in February 2009, two-way agricultural, fish and forest trade has grown from $1.4 billion in fiscal year 2009 to $1.8 billion in fiscal 2010 jump of 31 percent. U.S. exports of agricultural, fish, and forest products alone expanded by 70 percent during this period. Two-way agricultural, fish and forest trade with Ecuador has remained relatively steady at $1.8 billion in fiscal 2010 compared to $1.7 billion in fiscal 2009.

Further information about the Agribusiness Trade and Investment Mission is available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/icd/TIM/Peru.asp

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Contact: FAS Public Affairs, (202) 720-7115