Central America - February 2018

U.S. companies have a unique opportunity to grow their food and agricultural exports to Central America’s Northern Triangle of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras during a U.S. Department of Agriculture trade mission February 26-March 1, 2018.

The mission will be based in Guatemala, but participants will be able to connect with potential customers from Honduras and El Salvador as well through targeted business meetings arranged by local staff from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. The itinerary also includes briefings with government and industry leaders and visits to local retail outlets and food processing and handling facilities. 

Why the Northern Triangle of Central America?

Central America’s Northern Triangle – Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador – is a convenient and growing market for U.S. agricultural exports. The U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force in all three countries in 2006 and, since then, U.S. farm and food exports have more than doubled. More than 95 percent of U.S. agricultural products enjoy duty-free access under CAFTA-DR.

In 2016, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador imported nearly $5.9 billion of agricultural products –more than 40 percent of which came from the United States, which is the top supplier to all three countries. Throughout the region, rising GDPs and rapidly expanding urban and middle-class populations are expected to lead to continued growth in demand for food and farm products over the coming decade.

For additional information, please email trademissions@fas.usda.gov.