Creed Leads Major Agri-Food Trade Mission to the USA and Mexico
”Trade Development in the Americas a vital part of Ireland’s Brexit Response”
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D will lead a delegation which includes State agencies and Irish food industry representatives, on a week-long trade mission to the USA and Mexico. The visit begins in Washington this weekend [Sunday 18th June] and continues through Maryland, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Chicago and Mexico City. The trade mission comprises approximately 30 separate events and engagements.
In advance of the visit, Minister Creed stressed the importance of providing industry with further opportunities to grow in international markets, both by developing export opportunities in existing markets and by opening new markets:
“This trade mission is a great opportunity to strengthen our existing market presence in the United States, to deepen the existing footprint of the Irish food sector in Mexico, and establish a platform to develop new market opportunities for Irish beef and pigmeat there. It will also allow us crucial opportunities to meet representatives of the new US administration, and to gain a better understanding of their key policy priorities in the agri food sector. It will also allow us to engage with political counterparts in Mexico as we endeavour to forge new opportunities for Irish food companies.”
Minister Creed has already had a long and constructive telephone conversation with Mr. Sonny Perdue, the newly appointed US Secretary of State for Agriculture. This initial contact will be followed up during the trade mission by meetings with other key influencers in the new US Administration, including Mr Ray Starling, Special Assistant to the President on Agriculture and Trade, as well as senior officials in the US Department of Agriculture and the US Trade Representation. The Minister will also meet with Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
The delegation will also have engagements with key meat, dairy, beverage and agri-industry representatives to gain a better understanding of how the sectors operate and to showcase the Irish dairy, meat and beverage offering. The United States is a major importer of Irish agri food products which, in 2016, were valued at more than €1 billion.
Speaking before leaving on the trade Mission Tara McCarthy CEO of Bord Bia said:
“Next week will mark the fifth anniversary of the launch of Origin Green and we will demonstrate to US food and beverage customers how partnering with Origin Green verified members can provide them with competitive yet differentiated Irish products through the high quality, sustainably produced food and drink increasingly demanded by their consumers.
We will also be seeking approval from the USDA for our eight marketing claims for Irish beef which were audited by the USDA last week. Approval would allow us and our customers to integrate the claims within our US strategy and use the USDA seal on products and in store.”
In Mexico, Minister Creed’s itinerary will include meetings with the Mexican Secretary (Minister) for Agriculture (SAGARPA), Jose Eduardo Calzada Rovirosa and with Sub Secretary (Vice Minister) for Trade, Juan Carlos Baker Pineda.
The focus will be on trade development opportunities. Referring to this leg of the visit, Minister Creed said:
“Mexico is a significant importer of agri food products and is a new and developing market where we need to establish relationships and links. Meetings with political counterparts, as well as local experts in the pigmeat and beef industries, will help us to better understand the market and to align our food offering with the demands of the Mexican market.”
Bord Bia CEO Tara McCarthy added:
“In Mexico we will be engaging with meat industry representatives in advance of access for pigmeat and beef, to ensure we are well positioned when the market is opened, as well as meeting with drinks and dairy buyers to build Ireland’s brand in the market”
Mexico is already Ireland’s 14th biggest bilateral trading partner worldwide and Ireland’s biggest trading partner in Latin America. In particular, Mexico was the 13th largest destination for Irish dairy exports in 2016 with total exports of around €52.6 million or 14,500 tonnes. However, there is potential for significant growth in the volume and value of Irish exports.
Concluding, Minister Creed underlined the importance of trade development and diversification against the background of Brexit:
“Building new opportunities for trade is already a central element in Ireland’s Food Wise 2025 Strategy and is all the more important against the background of Brexit. I am delighted to lead this important trade mission and I am convinced that the collaboration between Government, its agencies and industry operators that is evident on such missions makes a real and positive difference to Irish companies exporting into these market”
Notes for Editors
Sunday 18th June
AM Depart Dublin for Washington Dulles
PM Trade Mission delegation briefing
Monday 19th June
AM Meeting with Acting under Secretary for Foreign Agriculture Service
AM Meeting with Special Assistant to President on Agriculture and Trade
AM Technical meetings with FSIS and APHIS
AM Meeting with USTR
AM Working Lunch National Farmers Union
PM Company Product Launch
PM Meeting with US Senator
PM Irish Company Product Promotion
PM Bord Bia Origin Green Reception
Tuesday 20th June
AM Technical Meeting for Bord Bia
AM Interview with local media
AM Meeting with Maryland State Government
AM Site visit to Cold Storage facility
PM Depart for Philadelphia Port
PM Meeting with Philadelphia Port Senior Management
PM Depart Philadelphia for Chicago O’Hare
Wednesday 21st June
AM Meeting with Local Renewable Energy Company
AM Irish business network breakfast
AM Bord Bia Origin Green Breakfast (Dairy Focus)
AM Site visit R&D Centre
AM Irish Company Product Promotion
PM Local Retail Store Tour
PM Depart Chicago O’Hare for Mexico City
Thursday 22nd June – Mexico City
AM Trade Mission Delegation Briefing
AM Meeting with SubSecretary (Vice Minister) for Trade
AM Working Lunch COMECARNE and PORCIMEX.
PM Bord Bia Origin Green meeting (focus on Dairy)
PM Press Opportunity
PM Reception for industry and local representatives
Friday 23rd June
AM Trade Mission Delegation Briefing
AM Meeting with Secretary for Agriculture
AM Press opportunity
PM Depart for Dublin
Saturday 24th June
PM Arrive in Dublin
To View this Press Release as a PDF: DAFMPR 106/2017 (pdf 473Kb)
Date Released: 17 June 2017
