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Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture

APHIS works to protect the health and value of American agriculture and natural resources. APHIS International Services (IS) supports this mission in an international environment by: (1) collaborating with foreign partners to control pests and diseases before they can harm the U.S.; (2) facilitating safe agricultural trade; (3) ensuring effective and efficient management of internationally-based programs; and (4) investing in international capacity-building with foreign counterparts to build technical and regulatory skills that prevent the spread of damaging pests and diseases.

Program Priorities

  • USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue Visits Japan

    May 13, 2019 — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was in Japan as part of a meeting of Western Hemisphere agriculture leaders meeting on the margins of the G-20 Agricultural Ministerial in Niigata, Japan. On Monday, Secretary Perdue stopped to meet with U.S. and Japan trade negotiators in Tokyo.  Secretary Perdue urged Japan to move swiftly to finalize a trade deal with Washington on farm products and other goods, and to recognize that the U.S. is a “premier customer” for Japan.  Secretary Perdue took time to meet with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty and the U.S. Embassy Team including APHIS-International Services staff.


  • APHIS Opens New Market for U.S. Exports of Used Cooking Oil

    Apr. 30, 2019 — APHIS met with officials from the Portuguese Ministry of Animal Health and representatives of the border inspection posts (BIPs) in Lisbon, Portugal. At the last such meeting held in 2014, Portugal informed APHIS they did not allow the import of used cooking oil, and APHIS presented the case for why Portugal should allow the import of used cooking oil intended for the manufacture of biodiesel as allowed by certain other EU Member States. At the April 23 meeting, Portugal verified that they had decided to open the market for used cooking oil from the United States under favorable conditions that do not require government certification. The estimated value of this market accomplishment is $25 million per year.

  • APHIS Meets with Thailand on Animal Health

    Sept. 18, 2019 —  APHIS met with Thailand’s Department of Livestock and Development (DLD) in Bangkok, Thailand. APHIS and DLD discussed ongoing issues including U.S. turkey meat access, avian influenza regionalization, rendered meals, and inedible beef offal. In 2018, U.S. trade in animal and animal products reached $196 million.

  • U.S. Announces Trade Deal Reached with Japan

    August 25, 2019 — On the margins of the G-7 meeting, President Trump announced that the United States and Japan have agreed “in principle” to a bilateral trade deal involving agriculture and digital products. The deal would focus on lowering tariffs on a wide range of agricultural commodities such as beef, pork, ethanol, DDGs, and soymeal. This agreement will aid exporters who seek to compete with exports from other countries who have partnered with Japan through finalized free trade agreements (FTA). 

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