U.S. Food Products Showcased at Seoul Food & Hotel Show 2016, KINTEX, May 10-13, 2016

More than 60 American companies and trade associations comprising the largest ever U.S. Pavilion represented a wide range of products in Korea’s largest international food and agriculture show, Seoul Food & Hotel 2016. It is clear that renewed enthusiasm for agricultural trade between the United States and Korea is due in large part to the Korea -- U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) implemented on March 15, 2012. In its fourth year of implementation, KORUS FTA has eliminated or reduced duties on many American food products leading to U.S. exports of high-value, consumer oriented products to Korea reaching a record $3.6 billion. U.S. exhibitors representing a wide array of products including blueberries, dairy products, organic foods, snack foods, drinks and meat products reported making many quality contacts and on-site sales of $6.7 million and a preliminary estimate of expected sales during the next 12 months totaling $26.7 million. For more information on export opportunities to our 5th largest market under KORUS FTA please visit ATO Seoul Home Page (KORUS FTA).

Great American Craft Beer Showcase @ Seoul Int’l Wine & Spirits Expo 2016: April 20-23, COEX Seoul

In partnership with the Brewers Association, ATO Seoul presented the ‘Great American Craft Beer Showcase’ during the Seoul International Wines & Spirits Expo 2016. A total of 26 American craft breweries participated in the exhibition, offering an opportunity for the Korean craft beer trade to taste and learn about the quality, value, and diversity of premium beer that the American craft beer industry has to offer. During the two days of exhibition, over 2,000 targeted trade audience attended the booth. Additionally, the activity provided a ‘Great American Craft Beer Seminar’, which presented a targeted marketing message and in-depth information to 60 targeted audience as well. Evaluation of the activity indicated that minimum five new-to-market American craft breweries would develop local import partners within the 12 months after the activity. In addition, the activity was expected to generate increased sales to the seven Korean importers who joined the exhibition.

Gyeongbuk Province Quarter Horse Buying Delegation to the United States: April 3-8, Columbia MO, Lexington KY

A delegation of horse industry leaders of Gyeongbuk province, South Korea traveled to the United States, April 3 - 8 under co-sponsorship of ATO Seoul and Gyeongbuk provincial government. Through collaboration with the U.S. Livestock Genetics Export (USLGE), the delegation visited Columbia, MO for business meetings and tours with potential suppliers of quarter horses. In addition, the delegation visited many other horse industry facilities during the trip in Missouri and Kentucky, including equine education/research programs in local colleges, a veterinarian hospital, a therapeutic riding center, horse theme parks and museums, an auction house, and racetracks to learn about advanced knowledge and practices that the U.S. horse industry has to offer. The delegation is expected to generate new sales of 100 American quarter horses to the province within 2016. More importantly, the working relationship developed between the Gyeongbuk horse industry leaders and the American horse industry from the trip is likely to help build a solid foundation for long-term contribution of American horses in the development of local horse industry in Gyeongbuk province in the coming years.