U.S. Department of Agriculture Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Under Secretary Alexis M. Taylor recently arrived in Panama City to launch a regional agribusiness trade mission.

The trade mission had a goal to strengthen ties and build economic partnerships between the United States and Panama, as well as other markets throughout the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) region, according to a March 20 Foreign Agricultural Service news release. Represented by 26 agribusiness and farm organizations and two state departments of agriculture, the delegation seeks to import American food and farm products.

“Panama and our partners throughout the CAFTA-DR region offer the U.S. agriculture industry great opportunities to export its world-class products,” Taylor said in the release. “I’m excited to introduce the diverse group of U.S. agribusinesses and industry officials joining me in Panama City to buyers from around the region."

During the trade mission, FAS Panama City facilitated a number of business meetings between U.S. trade mission delegates and companies from Panama, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, the release reported. The aim is to foster opportunities for American agricultural products in the region.

The itinerary also included bilateral meetings with Panamanian government officials, retail promotions featuring U.S. products and the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. Grains Council and the Panamanian Sugar Cane National Industry on ethanol blending, according to the news release.

"Agricultural product exports to Panama and the CAFTA-DR member countries topped $8.8 billion in 2022, supporting the record $196 billion in total agricultural exports from the United States last year," Taylor said, according to the news release. "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.”