The registration deadline is approaching for companies interested in joining the Auto Care Association trade mission to Guatemala, with an optional stop in El Salvador. In partnership with the International Trade Administration and U.S. Commercial Service, the trade mission will take place June 21-22 in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and June 23-24 in San Salvador, El Salvador. The deadline to register is May 5.

The U.S. is the largest trading partner for Guatemala and El Salvador and, as a result of the Central American Free Trade Agreement, 100 percent of U.S. consumer and industrial goods exports to Guatemala and El Salvador are no longer subject to tariffs. Free trade agreements increase transparency, improve the business environment and reduce market access barriers.

Trade mission packages start at $2,500 and include personalized business-to-business matchmaking meetings with foreign industry executives, pre-screened to match a company’s specific business objectives; hotel accommodations and local transportation; networking receptions; interpreters; and market overview briefings.

Companies seeking to export goods or services produced in the United States, may be eligible for a $1,500 reimbursement of the trade mission costs after fulfilling certain reporting requirements, as part of the Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) award the association received from the U.S. Department of Commerce to help the automotive industry increase exports to Latin America,

For details about the trade missions and to register, visit autocare.org/trade-missions. For additional event information, contact Carolina Arregoces at [email protected] or 240-333-1037.