Reconciliation Bill Doubles Funding for Agriculture Trade Promotion Efforts
CONTACTS:
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Jerry Brown, USDEC |
ARLINGTON, VA – The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) today welcomed Congress’ significant investment in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s trade promotion capacity, as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The bill, passed through Congress’ reconciliation process, establishes the new Supplemental Agricultural Trade Promotion Program and provides $285 million annually in permanent mandatory funding. This complements USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) programs, which are typically funded at about $235 million combined annually—effectively doubling USDA’s total funding for programming dedicated to increasing U.S. agriculture exports.
“We are grateful for Congress increasing its investment in trade promotion funding, which is essential to expanding opportunities for U.S. dairy exports in competitive global markets,” said Krysta Harden, USDEC president and CEO. “These are extremely popular programs that we know work and provide a return on investment. This funding will help ensure that America’s dairy producers can reach more consumers around the world with high-quality, sustainably produced products, driving growth for the U.S. dairy industry and rural communities around the country.”
This improved funding in trade promotion is especially vital given the European Union’s increased investment in public agri-food export promotion, as well as new trade agreements signed by U.S. competitors, which have put American producers at a significant disadvantage in several key markets. The funding will be made available for fiscal year 2027.
Independent researchers have found that between 1997 and 2019, FMD and MAP programs yielded undeniable results for U.S. agriculture, including:
- $677 billion of additional revenue.
- A $58.8 billion increase to farm income.
- A 13.7 percent annual average increase in export value.
- A $24.50 return on each dollar invested.
“We look forward to working with USDA and our members to build on recent successes and ensure a more level playing field for U.S. dairy,” added Harden.
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The U.S. Dairy Export Council is a non-profit, independent membership organization that represents the global trade interests of U.S. dairy producers, proprietary processors and cooperatives, ingredient suppliers and export traders. Its mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and assist the U.S. industry to increase its global dairy ingredient sales and exports of U.S. dairy products. USDEC accomplishes this through programs in market development that build global demand for U.S. dairy products, resolve market access barriers and advance industry trade policy goals. USDEC is supported by staff across the United States and overseas in Mexico, South America, Asia, Middle East and Europe. The U.S. Dairy Export Council prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, disability, national origin, race, color, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, political beliefs, marital status, military status, and arrest or conviction record. www.usdec.org.