USDA and the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture last week met in Washington, D.C., to recognize valuable market access achievements for several longstanding issues for both the United States and Peru, including American fresh and chilled pork, rough and brown rice, live cattle, and beef.

This success is the culmination of many years of hard work between the U.S. and Peru's technical agencies, USDA said.

On April 10th, Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the expanded access to consumer markets in Peru for U.S. fresh and chilled pork, a market that could generate $5 million annually in additional pork sales.

Peru is providing market access for U.S. rough and brown rice APHIS is also finalizing technical discussions to gain market access for U.S. live cattle, and U.S. beef and look forward to working with Peru to ensure safe global trade based on sound science.

Enhanced by U.S. Peru Trade Agreement
Both Peruvian Minister Juan Manuel Benites Ramos and USDA Under Secretary Ed Avalos recognize the strong relationship between the Peru and United States' governments has been enhanced by the U.S. – Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, effective on February 1, 2009.

Also, combatting trade barriers is the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which both Peru and the United States are strong advocates, supporting market access for our respective domestic products based on sound science.

Related: U.S. beef, pork trade expanded in Mexico and Peru

USDA said it continues its efforts to eliminate all remaining trade barriers to U.S. cattle and cattle products stemming from past detections of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service continues to work with its trading partners to ensure any unnecessary requirements for US origin beef are eliminated.

The World Organization for Animal Health considers the United States' to have negligible risk for BSE. This is OIE's lowest risk category for this disease.

Both the United States and Peru are supporters of the international marketplace and are always seeking opportunities for furthering our trade relationship, while protecting our domestic agriculture.