The USDA will lead a trade mission to the Dominican Republic from July 13-17 to expand market access and boost America’s agricultural exports. The delegation includes 47 agribusinesses, trade organizations, and officials from Colorado, Montana, and Wisconsin departments of agriculture. “USDA is committed to opening up more export opportunities for American agriculture,” said Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Affairs Michelle Bekkering, who will lead the mission. “This trade mission will connect U.S. exporters with key buyers, tapping into Latin America’s growing demand for high-quality American agricultural products, supporting good rural prosperity, and keeping American agricultural products globally competitive.” The Dominican Republic is the fourth-largest market for U.S. agricultural exports in the Western Hemisphere and the top market within the Central America Free Trade Agreement-Dominican Republic region. It’s helped increase U.S. exports to the Dominican Republic to $2.2 billion in 2024. The U.S. supplies 44 percent of the country’s agricultural imports.