The U.S. government has reached an agreement with the government of Peru to remove barriers for U.S. beef exports to Peru that have remained in effect since 2003, opening one of the fastest-growing markets in Latin America to all American beef and beef products. In 2015, the United States exported $25.4 million in beef and beef products to Peru. Since the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) entered into force in 2009, U.S. beef and beef products have grown substantially but have been hampered due to burdensome certification requirements installed by Peru in 2003. This agreement removes those barriers—called the export verification program—and assures American ranchers of expanded market access.
“Peru has been a growing market for American beef and this agreement will only further expand opportunities for American producers and exporters,” said U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman. “Not many years ago, there was little American beef going to Peru, but through the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, and agreements like this, we are seeing increased demand for high-quality American beef.”
Bilateral trade of agricultural, fish, and forestry products between the United States and Peru topped $3 billion in 2015 and has grown more than 110% since 2009.
The agreement reached today reflects the United States’ negligible risk classification for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Through an exchange of letters, the United States and Peru have agreed to changes in certification statements that will allow beef and beef products from all federally inspected U.S. establishments to be eligible for export to Peru, rather than only those beef and beef products from establishments that participated in the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA AMS) Export Verification (EV) programs under the previous certification requirements.
