USDA Sending Trade Mission to Brazil

The USDA is sending a trade mission to Brazil this week to investigate whether there are opportunities for American producers in that country.

Mark Slupek, Deputy Administrator for Trade Programs for the Foreign Agricultural Service, said they chose Brazil because it’s changed a lot in the past 20 years.

“Brazil’s growing population and rising per capita income, coupled with the fact that Brazilian consumers have a high regard for U.S. products and brands makes this a market that’s currently underserved by the United States and one well worth exploring for American exporters.”

Slupek said there is not much of a concern about competition in some commodities between Brazil and the U.S.

“It’s also a major importer. In 2016 Brazil imported $10 billion worth of product from around the world. We want to be part of that.”

Of that $10 billion, Brazil imported a little under $1.4 billion from the U.S.