The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently held an Agribusiness Trade Mission in Panama City, Panama, with participation from USA Rice and other agribusinesses, farm organizations, and state departments of agriculture. The mission's objective was to strengthen ties and build economic partnerships with Central and South American buyers and importers. In 2022, agricultural product exports to Panama and the CAFTA-DR member countries totaled over $8.8 billion, supporting nearly $200 billion in total agricultural exports from the United States. The mission included market tours, business meetings, and a visit to the Panama Canal, and focused on strategies to advance agricultural trade. The U.S. has a trade promotion agreement with Panama that allows for the duty-free entry of a certain amount of U.S. rice.