The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recognizes that to ensure continued market access for U. S. agricultural exports, the USDA must continue to support the provision of technical assistance to LAC officials to assist in the development and adoption of

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science-based and trade-facilitating policies.

While the United States is one of LAC’s largest trading partners, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and food safety regulations that are inconsistent with international standards continue to disrupt exports of U. S. agricultural products into the region.

This program will aim to help partner countries in LAC’s regional economic communities (i.e., the Central American Regional Economic Community, the Andean Community (CAN), the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)) to understand and adopt regulations consistent with U. S. and international standard setting bodies as well as ensure compliance with their own MRL Guidelines.