Tag: U.S. Guatemala dairy

U.S. Dairy Welcomes Central America Trade Deals

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF praised U.S. reciprocal trade agreements with El Salvador on Jan. 29 and Guatemala on Jan. 30 that included key provisions to facilitate dairy exports and came after NMPF advocacy issue on key dairy issues including common cheese names.

The deals expand upon the tariff-free access that NMPF worked to secure over a decade ago under the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement.

Both deals include commitments to preempt nontariff barriers to dairy trade, including El Salvador and Guatemala’s recognition of the safety of the U.S. regulatory system, a commitment to continue accepting certificates approved by U.S. regulatory authorities and streamlined product registrations. The provisions also preempt the introduction of duplicative dairy processing facility registration processes.

Following NMPF advocacy on the need for stronger protections for common cheese names, the reciprocal agreements included commitments for El Salvador and Guatemala to protect certain generic terms, including a list of 38 terms like “parmesan” and “feta.”

U.S. dairy exporters shipped $176 million to the two countries in 2024. NMPF will continue to work with the U.S. government to ensure full implementation of the agreements to ensure continued access to the growing markets.

NMPF Strengthens Latin American Ties Amid Trade Uncertainty

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

Amid tense and uncertain trade relations between the United States and Mexico, NMPF Executive Vice President Jaime Castaneda reinforced U.S. dairy’s commitment to its Mexican partners at the Pan American Dairy Federation’s (FEPALE) Board of Directors meeting.

Castaneda highlighted new and continuing opportunities for NMPF and FEPALE to promote dairy consumption and boost trade between the two neighboring countries at the meeting, held the week of March 3. Castaneda also met with key Mexican farm representatives, processors and importers to discuss the looming threat of tariffs and other challenges facing the U.S. and Mexican dairy industries. Castaneda met with Ricardo Villavicencio, president of CANILEC (the Mexican association of processors and importers), and Sergio Soltero, secretary of the National Confederation of Livestock Organizations, to emphasize Mexico’s value as a trade partner to the U.S. dairy industry.

Building on these efforts, NMPF and USDEC signed a memorandum of understanding with the Guatemalan Dairy Development Association (ASODEL) on March 20 in Guatemala City. The agreement aims to boost dairy trade, promote consumption and address trade barriers across the Americas—underscoring NMPF’s broader strategy to strengthen regional ties and support open, fair dairy markets.