The U.S. Congress was the venue for the
15th anniversary celebration —a meeting that brought together authorities from the U.S. Executive and Legislative Branches, along with senior representatives of the private sector, civil society, and international organizations.
The ceremony —which also saw the participation of
Peruvian Ambassador to the U.S. Alfredo Ferrero—
highlighted the entry into force of this international instrument, which marked a historic milestone in the bilateral economic relationship.
After 15 years of the FTA's entry into force, bilateral trade has almost tripled, reaching US$22 billion.
Ambassador Ferrero underscored that the
FTA has been the platform for Peru to negotiate another 21 free trade agreements, contributing to economic growth and job creation.
The document underscores that California, Florida, and Pennsylvania are key markets for Peruvian fruits.
"Additionally, Peru imports significant quantities of oil from Texas and Louisiana; iron and steel products from California and Florida; plus, civil aircraft, engines, and parts from Florida, Illinois, Georgia, and New York," reads the text.
Similarly, it indicates that the FTA has contributed to the expansion of Peru's gastronomy in the United States, with more than 400 Peruvian restaurants that benefit from access to products from our country at competitive prices.
The event featured a panel discussion titled "Exploring Achievements and Opportunities within the Peru-United States FTA," moderated by Neil Herrington, Senior Vice-President for the Americas Department at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It is the largest business guild worldwide, representing around 3 million companies globally.
The presentations were delivered by Patrick Delaney, Director of Federal Government Affairs at Walmart; Dominic O'Brien, Senior Marketing Manager at PhilaPort (the Port of Philadelphia); and Maria Luisa Boyce, Vice-President of International Policy for Global Public Affairs at UPS.
They emphasized that the FTA has turned the U.S. market into the main destination for Peruvian value-added exports, driving an agro-exports revolution and generating thousands of jobs.
For example, the agricultural sector has grown sevenfold, from US$589 million in 2009 to US$3.436 billion in 2023, positioning Peru as the second-largest fruit supplier to the United States, with products such as blueberries, grapes, and avocados.
The event concluded with a reception in which the best of Peruvian gastronomy was offered at the U.S. Legislative Branch headquarters in Washington, D.C.