Trade/Food Aid

In Fiscal Year 2019, U.S. agriculture exports totaled $135.5 billion, making trade a critical outlet for U.S. farm and ranch production. Further, over the last four years, the U.S. has modernized its trade relationships for 50% of its agricultural trade, including through the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement, and the China Phase One Deal. The Committee remains engaged on agricultural trade issues as the U.S. seeks to uphold existing agreements and forge new agricultural trade partnerships around the world.

The Committee on Agriculture recognizes the long history of support from U.S. agriculture for international food aid programs. For more than 65 years, the U.S. has been the global leader in providing international food aid through program like Food for Peace Title II, Food for Progress, and the McGovern-Dole Food for Education programs. U.S. agricultural producers have been central to the successful efforts of these programs. The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 made several important updates to food aid programs, and the Committee continues to monitor implementation of those changes as global need continues to surge.