Chilean Officials Learn
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The negotiations for – and the later congressional approval of – a Chilean Free Trade Agreement were simply the first steps in the long process of developing U.S.-Chilean meat trade. Another important step was taken recently when a delegation of Chilean agricultural officials came to the offices of the U.S. Meat Export Federation in Denver for week-long discussions and orientation. According to Homero Recio [ress-e-oh], USMEF’s vice president for the Americas …
If the Chilean officials left convinced that U.S. product fits their market, how big might the market become? According to Recio …
Other benefits also are likely to result from the Chilean visits, according to Recio …
Recio says the Central American market is closely tied to the U.S. economy, so as it grows so will the market. South America, on the other hand, has been plagued by weak economies, devalued currency and relatively high beef and pork production. Beef and beef variety meat exports to this region increased 3 percent in volume during the first seven months, while pork and pork variety meat exports increased 7 percent.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn, sorghum and soybean checkoff programs.
-- USMEF --