The United States has been in an enviable position with its ability to post an agricultural trade surplus year after year, said Jim Miller, the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. <\/p>\n
Miller, at the U.S. Grains Council\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 50th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting, said that trend will continue in fiscal year 2010, when the agricultural trade surplus is estimated to be some $28 billion, the second largest in history.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153As we moved through the economic downturn, there were some impacts,\u00e2\u20ac\ufffd he said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153but the agriculture trade recovery is certainly well underway.\u00e2\u20ac\ufffd <\/p>\n
In fact, he said, agricultural exports are expected to reach $104 billion this year, the second largest in history and below only the record $115 billion in 2008. <\/p>\n
In an effort to increase exports across all industries, the Administration has launched the National Export Initiative with a goal to double exports over the next five years. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153That is a very significant challenge,\u00e2\u20ac\ufffd he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going to be a significant challenge for any sector in the economy, even in agriculture, despite its good performance lately.\u00e2\u20ac\ufffd <\/p>\n
He said exports are key to growing the economy and aiding the economic recovery, because rising exports create jobs. <\/p>\n
For agriculture, Miller said there are four areas where a renewed effort will pay dividends. Among those four areas are market development programs like those implemented by the U.S. Grains Council. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We have a long history \u00e2\u20ac\u201c you have a long history \u00e2\u20ac\u201c of market development, and we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been relatively effective,\u00e2\u20ac\ufffd Miller said, adding that a budget request for increased market development funds was submitted to Congress. <\/p>\n
He said USDA will be \u00e2\u20ac\u0153extremely aggressive to make sure those funds are used in a way that allows us to maximize our efforts.\u00e2\u20ac\ufffd <\/p>\n
Another item that will benefit agriculture is bilateral and multilateral trade talks. Miller said increasing trade opportunities will require a more aggressive effort within USDA, as well as working with colleagues in the Office of the United States Trade Representative. There can be accomplishments, he said, including in the Doha Round, finalizing the three existing free trade agreements that have yet to be implemented; the Trans-Pacific Partnership and bilateral issues that impede U.S. exports. <\/p>\n
Ensuring the enforcement and compliance with existing trade agreements is also necessary, Miller said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We will be redoubling that effort,\u00e2\u20ac\ufffd he said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153one issue and one country at a time.\u00e2\u20ac\ufffd He cited pork trade with Russia and access to markets for U.S. beef as examples. Yet he noted that agricultural trade is also dependent on the ability to market products that come from new technology and that technology itself. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Efforts like biotechnology are at the forefront of this agenda,\u00e2\u20ac\ufffd Miller said. <\/p>\n
Finally, Miller cited the global hunger and food security initiative as a way to boost agriculture exports. This effort stretches across governmental agencies and involves finding new ways to deliver foreign assistance programs. The goal, he said, is to think long term \u00e2\u20ac\u201c to help educate people, build infrastructure and promote free and open markets. Over time, more people will have a better standard of living and will be more receptive to U.S. agricultural products.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Poor people don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t make very good commercial customers,\u00e2\u20ac\ufffd he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We must create real growth and income in people oversees.\u00e2\u20ac\ufffd<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The United States has been in an enviable position with its ability to post an agricultural trade surplus year after year, said Jim Miller, the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. Miller, at the U.S. Grains Council\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 50th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting, said that trend will continue in … <\/p>\n