Marketing and Trade
At the core of USDA's mission is fostering economic opportunity and innovation that will continue to help American agriculture grow and thrive in a global economy. Through research, data and analysis, trade agreements, grants and programs that add value to products, USDA works to expand and maintain both foreign and domestic markets for American farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership Is Good for American Agriculture
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a new, high-standard trade agreement that levels the playing field for American workers and American businesses, supporting more Made in America exports and higher-paying American jobs. The agreement would eliminate or significantly reduce tariffs on our products and deter non-science based sanitary and phytosanitary barriers that have put American agriculture at a disadvantage in TPP countries in the past. Despite these past barriers, countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership currently account for up to 42 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports, totaling $63 billion. Thanks to this agreement and its removal of unfair trade barriers, American agricultural exports to the region will expand even further.
Read the Text
- The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Leveling the playing field for American workers & American businesses
Resources & News
- Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Release of Text for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
- Agriculture-Related Provisions of the TPP: Short Summary
- Agriculture-Related Provisions of the TPP: Detailed Summary
- TPP Information from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
- Food and Agriculture Groups Express Optimism and Confidence in Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
Fact Sheets
- Trans Pacific Partnership and Japan: Key Outcomes for Agriculture
- Helping U.S. Exporters Gain Access to Valuable Overseas Markets
- White House FACT SHEET: How the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Boosts Made in America Exports, Supports Higher-Paying American Jobs, and Protects American Workers
- The Benefits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership for All 50 States
- The Benefits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership for Specific U.S. Agricultural Products
Listen
- TPP Deal Would Help Farmers
- Officials are Pointing out the Benefits of TPP
Made in Rural America Export and Investment Initiative
The White House Rural Council is leading a new "Made in Rural America" export and investment initiative. This initiative is charged with bringing together federal resources to help rural businesses and leaders take advantage of new investment opportunities and access new customers and markets abroad.
Learn more about the "Made In Rural America" Export and Investment Initiative.
Market Development and Research
Strengthening and expanding markets for American agricultural products not only helps U.S. farms and businesses thrive, it also helps improve the quality and variety of foods available to consumers around the world. From local and regional foods to grades and labeling, all of USDA's market development efforts foster economic growth while keeping consumer needs and expectations as a top priority.
Supporting Exports
In a global marketplace, supply and demand in one area of the world can greatly impact the agricultural production in another. American products are shipped world-wide, and USDA works with nations around the globe to solidify and increase trade opportunities for U.S. farmers and businesses.
Trade Policy
USDA works with foreign governments, international organizations, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to establish international standards and rules to improve accountability and predictability for agricultural trade. USDA helps facilitate trade policy by:
- Monitoring both bilateral and multi-lateral trade agreements, to help ensure that U.S. agriculture reaps the full benefit of trade agreements.
- Partnering with other U.S. government agencies and the private sector in international trade negotiations aimed at eliminating trade barriers and establishing transparent and science-based trading standards.
- Responding to World Trade Organization (WTO) notifications from foreign countries on sanitary, phytosanitary and technical measures that affect agricultural trade.
- Analyzing policies and regulations of major trading partners and examining the impacts of various trade agreements on member countries' agricultural sectors.
Monitoring the safety and quality of products coming into the U.S. from foreign trading partners is one of the many ways USDA helps protect the American consumer.
Learn more about trade policies and regulations, trade agreements, and international trade negotiations.
Marketing and Trade Assistance Programs
- Export Financing Programs
- Farmers Market Promotion Program
- Federal State Marketing Improvement Program
- Market Development Programs
- Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Publications and Reports
- Amber Waves Magazine
- Current and Historical Commodity Price Reports
- Current World Production, Market and Trade Reports
- Farmers Markets and Local Food Marketing Publications and Presentations
- Grain Inspection and Weighing Services
- USDA Agricultural Projections to 2021 (PDF, 450KB)
- World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates