Colombia: Free Trade Improves U.S. Liquor Sales in Colombia
FAS Colombia is writing a series of reports on the opportunities and challenges for U.S. agriculture under the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA), which went into force in May 2012. Even though the CTPA opened up the market for U.S. alcoholic drinks (beer, wine and spirits), U.S. firms were generally unfamiliar with the Colombian market. To overcome this constraint, FAS Colombia, in partnership with U.S. cooperators, developed a series of successful activities to promote U.S. alcoholic beverages in Colombia. U.S. exports of wine increased by 22 percent in the last two years to over $19 million and U.S. exports of whisky increased by 65 percent to over $210,000. While U.S. market share for alcoholic drinks is still small, and there are remaining market access issues, the potential for U.S. exporters is great. FAS Colombia will continue to work with our U.S. cooperator partners on promotional activities in the market.
