As US exports have stalled, South American food exports have grown upwards of ten times faster than US competitors in key agrifood segments such as soybeans, rice, corn and wheat. Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, the Caribbean and parts of Central America together are net importers of agricultural products and are faithful customers of American food exports, to the tune of $15 billion per year.

Besides being a growing market for US agrifood that can divert exports southward instead of westward, Latin America may also provide US agrifood shippers with new options that will help to lower US Pacific coast port congestion and lower shipping costs and delivery times.