Agricultural Trade: High-Value Products and U.S. Export Promotion Efforts

GAO discussed the government's role in exporting high-value agricultural products, focusing on the issues related to proposed legislation that would establish set-asides for and define those agricultural products. GAO noted that: (1) there is no national strategy to guide export promotion funds; (2) the proposed legislation would increase the U.S. share of world trade in processed and high-value agricultural products; (3) the Department of Agriculture's adherence to the proposed legislation might not be an effective use of program funds; (4) there is confusion over the nature of the economic benefits of high-value products; and (5) a long-term agricultural trade strategy must be developed and integrated into a government-wide export promotion plan to effectively utilize program funds.