Despite numerous challenges in the global trade market in 2018, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service had multiple successes in expanding export opportunities and diversifying markets for U.S. farm and food products. The agency is optimistic for the coming year having even more opportunities to make improvements to foreign markets and trade relationships.
“In that regard, we’re looking forward to great things in 2019, including the pursuit of even stronger trade ties with partners such as Japan and the United Kingdom, the forging of new business relationships through seven agricultural trade missions, and further success in knocking down both tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade,” said Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney.
One of the year’s biggest highlights was the successful negotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Over the course of the year the Foreign Ag Service sponsored a total of six agricultural trade missions, enabling U.S. companies and organizations to engage with foreign buyers which generated more than $140 million in projected 12-month sales. USDA efforts to pursue export opportunities resulted in new or expanded market access for numerous U.S. farm products in 2018, including beef and pork into Argentina, dairy into Turkey and poultry into India.
About the Author
