Release No. 0004.97

                                Jim Petterson    (202) 720-4623
                                Lynn Goldsbrough (202) 720-3930

USDA OPENS CARIBBEAN BASIN AGRICULTURAL TRADE OFFICE IN MIAMI

     MIAMI, Jan. 8, 1997--Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Richard Rominger
today announced the opening of a regional Caribbean Basin Agricultural Trade
Office (ATO) in Miami, Florida.  
     
     "The Caribbean Basin islands, as well as the countries that border the
Caribbean Sea, are vital markets for U.S. agricultural products," said
Rominger.  "Rising per capita incomes and a booming tourist industry are
creating new demand for U.S. foods and beverages in this region.  U.S.
exporters need to position themselves to take advantage of these trends. 
This office, operated by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, will help them
do that."  In 1996, the Clinton Administration announced record agricultural
exports of nearly $60 billion to all destinations.
     
     Rominger said that Caribbean Basin countries import roughly $3.7
billion worth of agricultural products every year from all countries. 
"Consumer-ready products account for almost two-thirds of that total," he
added.  U.S. agricultural exports to the region were $1.3 billion in fiscal
year 1996.  While U.S. bulk commodities have traditionally fared well in this
market, U.S. consumer-ready foods have not done as well.  "This new regional
office will raise the profile of our food products, particularly consumer-ready foods such as dairy products, fresh and processed fruits and
vegetables, poultry, beef, wine, and beer," he said.
     
     The trade office will provide a starting point for U.S. companies,
cooperatives, farmers, and processors interested in exporting to the
Caribbean region.  The Caribbean Basin ATO will cover a wide area that
includes the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican
Republic, the French West Indies, Haiti, Jamaica, the Leeward-Windward
Islands, the Netherlands Antilles, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
     
     The Caribbean Basin ATO opening brings to 16 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.  Offices are located in Guangzhou and
Shanghai, China; Hamburg, Germany; Hong Kong; Jakarta, Indonesia; Milan,
Italy; Singapore; Tokyo and Osaka, Japan; Taipei, Taiwan; Dubai, United Arab
Emirates; Mexico City, Mexico; Jeddah and Riyadh Saudi Arabia; and Seoul,
Korea.
     
     The new office is located at 909 SE 1st Avenue, Suite 720, Miami, FL
33131.  Tel. (305) 536-5300; fax. (305) 536-7577; e-mail cbato@ibm.net.  The
Agricultural Trade Officer is Willis Collie of the Foreign Agricultural
Service.
     Information about this announcement and other USDA export programs is
available on the USDA Home Page on the World Wide Web at
http://www.fas.usda.gov.
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