USDA Accepting Applications for August Trade Trip to Colombia

Photo courtesy of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

Following the USDA’s recent trade mission to India, the agency is now accepting applications from ag producers and business leaders for their next agribusiness trade mission to Bogotá, Colombia, Aug. 13-15, 2024.

Colombia is the largest South American market for U.S. ag products and the seventh-largest market for U.S. food and beverage exports globally. Since the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement was implemented in 2012, U.S. agricultural exports to Colombia have grown 237 percent, reaching a record $3.7 billion in 2023.

Changes in Colombians’ lifestyles – including increasingly common dual-income households, interest in healthier foods, and demand for packaged and prepared food products – bode well for U.S. exports. Furthermore, formal retail establishments, including supermarkets and mid-sized grocery stores, now account for 60 percent of food distribution nationwide.

While in Bogotá, U.S. agribusiness representatives will meet with potential importers from across Colombia, and FAS staff and local/regional industry trade experts will provide detailed market briefings. The mission will also include engagements with USDA leadership, site visits in Bogotá and the surrounding area, and multiple networking opportunities.

Colombia’s modern retail sector presents newfound opportunities for a diverse range of U.S. exports, including:

healthy foods (low-sodium, low-sugar, low-fat)
fresh fruit
dog and cat food
distilled spirits and wine
meat and meat products (beef, pork, and poultry)
processed vegetables
beans
seafood
dairy products
food preparations
snack foods
cereals
tree nuts
condiments and sauces
food and baking ingredients
feed ingredients

The trade mission will be led by Alexis Taylor, USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.

“Colombia represents a top-tier food and agricultural export destination for American farmers, ranchers and processors,” said Taylor. “As the second-most-populous country in South America, Colombia enjoys highly favorable demographics, coupled with 20 years of continuous economic growth, which saw a 36-percent increase in the median household income. USDA is committed to supporting and facilitating agricultural trade between suppliers and buyers throughout the Western Hemisphere, including Colombia.”

For consideration to participate in the trade mission, please complete the online application here by May 3.

More information about USDA trade missions can be found on the FAS website.

Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service