Donald Washington (202) 720-3101
MONTERREY, MEXICO, Oct. 3, 2002 – A. Ellen Terpstra, administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, today officially opens a new Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) in Monterrey, Mexico. Monterrey, one of Mexico’s most important regional markets, is a two-hour drive from the Texas border, Laredo-Nuevo Laredo crossing, where nearly 70 percent of U.S. agricultural exports enter Mexico.
“Mexico is a vital, growing, dynamic market for U.S. exporters. Today, U.S. food producers supply more than 75 percent of Mexico’s total agricultural imports,” Terpstra said. “In recognition of the importance of the Mexican marketplace for the U.S. food and agricultural export industry and with the goal of facilitating trade with our northern Mexican customers and the border region, USDA is expanding its presence by opening a second trade office in Monterrey. This office will provide an important resource for U.S. exporters wishing to launch new products or expand their established product lines in northern Mexico.”
Since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was approved in 1993, U.S. agricultural exports to Mexico have nearly doubled. U.S. exports to Mexico totaled $7.4 billion in 2001, up more than 15 percent from 2000, making it the third largest market for U.S. agricultural products. U.S. exports of consumer foods to Mexico reached a record $3.3 billion in 2001, up 25 percent from 2000.
The United States is the most important market for Mexico’s food producers. Mexico exported a record $5.3 billion in agricultural products to the United States in 2001. As a result of the NAFTA partnership, two-way trade in agricultural and food products is now nearly $13 billion.
“The ATO in Monterrey will also serve as another platform for exporters from both nations to resolve trade disputes and improve long-term prospects for both U.S. and Mexican traders,” Terpstra said.
The Monterrey opening brings to 17 the number of agricultural trade offices operated by FAS. These offices are centers for U.S. export sales promotions and contact points for importers seeking to buy agricultural products from the United States.
The Monterrey ATO is located at Oficinas en el Parque, Torre II, Blvd. Diaz Ordaz No. 140, Piso 7, Col. Santa Maria, CP 64650 Monterrey N.L. Tel.: (011-52-81) 8333-5289; fax: (011-52-81) 8333-1248; Internet address: ato2monterrey@hotmail.com . The U.S. mailing address for the Monterrey ATO is P.O. Box 9002, Brownsville, TX, 75820-9002. The agricultural trade officer is Jeanne Bailey of the Foreign Agricultural Service.
The Mexico City ATO is located at Jaime Balmes 8-201, Col. Los Morales Polanco, CP 11510 Mexico City. Tel.: (011-52-55) 5280-5291; fax: (011-52-55) 5281-6093; Internet address: atomexico@fas.usda.gov
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