The U.S. Department of Agriculture forged ahead to expand export opportunities and diversify markets for U.S. farm and food products in 2018, and those efforts paid off with global sales remaining robust despite numerous challenges in the international trade arena.
“It’s been a rollercoaster ride this year, but U.S. farm exports remain strong, thanks in no small part to the efforts of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service,” said Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney. “Under the leadership of Administrator Ken Isley, who joined the agency in March, FAS has been instrumental in the Administration’s efforts to promote free, fair and reciprocal trade.”
One of the year’s highlights was the successful negotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, through which the United States strengthened its trade relationship with its North American neighbors.
“Dozens of experts from across FAS worked side-by-side with our partners in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to ensure the best deal for U.S. agriculture, ultimately ensuring preferential access for U.S. exports and solidifying commitments to fair and science-based trade rules,” McKinney noted.
In addition, USDA efforts to break down barriers and pursue export opportunities resulted in new or expanded market access for numerous U.S. farm products in 2018. These included dairy and poultry to Canada under the USMCA, as well as lamb and goat meat to Japan, beef and pork to Argentina, poultry to India and Namibia, lamb to El Salvador, beef and poultry to Morocco, eggs to South Africa and dairy to Turkey.
