NAEGA Director of Operations Ryan Olson and IGTC Acting Secretariat Katy Lee traveled to Cancun, Mexico on October 5-8 to present before and participate in the 23rd Annual NAEGA-APPAMEX at the Iberostar Hotel. At the forum Ryan and Katy hosted a, Exclusive Section on Bulk Grain Trade Issues, including an “Update on Commercial and Official Policies and Practices.” During the Exclusive Section Ryan presented before Forum attendees on “The Trans-Pacific Partnership, Regulatory Coherence and Transparency.” Following Ryan’s presentation, Katy briefed the Forum on IGTC policy files and activities, including electronic documentation, the World Bank’s Enabling the Business of Agriculture Project, plant breeding technologies, and recent IPPC ISPM for grain negotiations. In addition to these presentations, Ryan and Katy heard and gathered information on a number of multilateral and bilateral trade issues facing the North American and global marketplaces, including an update from SENASICA on soil inspections and a speech by SAGARPA Secretary José Eduardo Calzada.

On Friday, October 7, to close out the forum, NAEGA also sponsored the Joint National Encounter of Pork Producers and NAEGA-APPAMEX Forum Grand Closing Dinner, which featured over 350 attendees.

A copy of the agenda for the NAEGA-APPAMEX Forum can be found here. A trip report for this MAP travel will soon be available. For more information, please contact Ryan or Katy.