Foreign market access helps the U.S. specialty crop industry thrive and supports the livelihood of those on farms and in related industries. Chart 1 demonstrates the dependency select specialty crops have on the export market.
The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and its USDA partners are committed to expanding export opportunities for the U.S. specialty crop sector. This report meets the requirements stated above to describe market access barriers confronting producers and exporters. USDA works with U.S. agricultural industry groups, U.S. regulatory agencies, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to open, expand, and maintain access for U.S. specialty crop products to export markets. This report also highlights USDA and the U.S. agricultural industry efforts and resources to facilitate U.S. specialty crop exports. Cooperation between USDA and the U.S. agricultural industry is not only important for maintaining existing export markets, but also for establishing new markets for U.S. products. Market access, expansion, and retention successes are outlined in this report.
Trade barriers such as burdensome requirements related to pre-export plant health inspections, low or missing pesticide maximum residue levels, labeling, or quality certification may discourage some U.S.
specialty crop producers from shipping products overseas. However, USDA is committed to assisting U.S. agricultural stakeholders to overcome trade barriers that deter U.S. specialty crop exporters and help them compete in the global marketplace. USDA uses the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program, which allocates funds to public and private sector stakeholders, to address barriers to exports of specialty crops. In FY 2021, FAS funded 15 TASC projects for a total of $7,182,146.
Click here for the full report