The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is launching agricultural trade promotion programs for FY 2026 and accepting applications for four export market development programs. USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service has opened funding opportunities for the Market Access Program (MAP), Foreign Market Development Program (FMD), Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program (TASC), and Emerging Markets Program (EMP) that will help U.S. agricultural producers promote and sell their goods internationally. This action follows U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ Friday announcement detailing six international trade trips in the next six months to promote U.S. agricultural exports. The Secretary will visit Vietnam, Japan, India, Peru, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.
“Our job at USDA is to open new markets for our farmers, ranchers, and producers. The previous administration left agriculture with a $50 billion trade deficit. President Trump and I will not sit idly by - we are actively working to open new markets and remove existing barriers,” said Secretary Rollins. “We are putting farmers first. These programs are a crucial step in sustaining long lasting economic growth in rural America.”
Background:
The application deadline for the four programs is June 6, 2025.
The Market Access Program (MAP), at $200 million annually, allocates funds to ag industry organizations across the United States to promote U.S. fruits, vegetables, nuts, processed products, and bulk and intermediate commodities to global consumers. The average MAP participant provides more than $2.50 in contributions for every $1 in federal funding it receives through the program. More information about the program and the FY 2026 funding opportunity.
The Foreign Market Development (FMD) program awards $34.5 million annually to benefit U.S. farmers, processors, and exporters by addressing long–term foreign market import constraints and by identifying new markets or new uses for U.S. agricultural commodities. FMD recipients, which contribute on average more than $2.50 for every $1 in federal funding they receive through the program, will conduct activities that help maintain or increase demand for U.S. agricultural commodities overseas. More information about the program and the FY 2026 funding opportunity.
The Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program (TASC) makes available $9 million annually to fund projects that address sanitary, phytosanitary, and technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. More information about the program and the FY 2026 funding opportunity.
The Emerging Markets Program (EMP) uses $8 million annually to support assessment and technical assistance activities intended to develop, maintain, or expand opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports in emerging markets. More information about the program and the FY 2026 funding opportunity.
Through MAP, FMD, TASC, and EMP, FAS establishes public-private partnerships with non-profit U.S. agricultural trade associations, farmer cooperatives, non-profit state-regional trade groups, state agencies, and small businesses to open markets and conduct overseas marketing and promotional activities on behalf of U.S. agricultural producers and processors.
These programs are funded by mandatory statutory funding per the direction of Congress. USDA takes seriously the disbursement of taxpayer dollars and will closely follow the program to ensure good return on investment.
Source : usda.gov