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G. Chandrashekhar

MUMBAI, June 27

IN an effort to promote agricultural products exports overseas more aggressively, the US has announced the release of over $100 million to be utilised for programmes for increasing trade opportunities and accessing markets.

Reaffirmation of the Bush Administration's commitment to open new markets for US agricultural goods closely follows the recently enacted new US Farm Act which raised federal farm payments by around $83 billion to cover income support and supply management programmes for the years 2002-2007.

The framework for boosting agri-exports under the Market Access Programme includes the use of trade promotion programmes overseas; aggressive plans for world trade negotiations and free trade agreements; attacks on trade barriers and subsidies that hurt US agriculture; and efforts to increase world demand through economic growth and sustainable development.

``Access to overseas markets is critical to American agriculture. Partnership programmes such as Market Access Programme and the Quality Samples Programme are effective tools to promote US agricultural exports'', asserted the US Agriculture Secretary, Ms Ann M. Veneman.

The funds earmarked for export promotion will be disbursed among 67 US trade organisations, which will receive about $90 million. Some of the major recipients of promotional funds include American Soyabean Association ($2.5 million); Cotton Council International ($6.7 million); US Grains Council ($2.8 million); and US Wheat Associates ($1.9 million).

Also, organisations promoting forest and paper products, dry fruits (almonds, pistachio, prune), peanuts, dry pea & lentil and several others will receive substantial funds for export promotion.

In addition, some 17 organisations will share $1.34 million in funds for quality samples programme to help create export sales by promoting awareness of US agricultural products among new foreign buyers. The programme seeks to provide samples of agricultural commodities to foreign importers so that US agribusiness can develop new business partnerships overseas, an official release said.

The US already has several aggressive programmes for export promotion including export enhancement programme, export credit guarantee programme, supplier credit guarantee programme, promotion of agricultural exports to emerging markets, foreign market development cooperator programme, dairy export incentive programme and so on.

The US is a major exporter of food and agricultural products. Last year, the value of such exports was $51 billion ($1 billion per week!) and in the current year, export earnings are likely to rise to $54.5 billion.

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