Agricultural Exports: U.S. Needs a More Integrated Approach to Address Sanitary/Phytosanitary Issues
NSIAD-98-32
Published: Dec 11, 1997. Publicly Released: Jan 16, 1998.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the: (1) extent to which foreign sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures may unfairly restrict U.S. agricultural exports; and (2) federal structure and approach for addressing such measures.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Office of the U.S. Trade Representative | The U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Secretary of State--or their designees--should work together to develop coordinated goals, objectives, and performance measurements for addressing foreign SPS measures that appear to be inconsistent with the WTO SPS agreement. The Government Performance and Results Act and implementing guidance provide a framework for federal agencies to consult on such cross-cutting programs. |
Closed – Implemented
To improve interagency coordination, USTR and the Secretary of Agriculture formed a senior-level steering group to address foreign SPS trade issues that unfairly restrict U.S. agricultural exports. The group coordinates broad policy guidance on priority foreign SPS measures that are inconsistent with international trade rules and have substantial policy and trade implications for agricultural exports. Also, USTR has helped USDA develop a survey instrument to collect information about SPS complaints. An interagency staff-level group that is chaired by USTR is developing goals, objectives, and performance measures for addressing trade-related SPS issues, is identifying public SPS contact points, and is developing a methodology for evaluating SPS issues brought to its attention. USTR is also working with other relevant agencies to educate public and private stakeholders about U.S. and foreign obligations to comply with international trade rules regarding SPS measures.
|
| Department of Agriculture | Given USDA's substantial role in identifying and addressing SPS measures, the Secretary of Agriculture should: (1) develop centralized, aggregated data on the number of SPS measures that have been identified, which ones are being addressed, and which ones have been resolved; and (2) establish a more systematic process by which USDA entities evaluate complaints they receive about SPS measures, determine which ones they should address, prioritize their efforts, develop unified approaches, and determine when to recommend consideration of dispute settlement procedures to USTR. This process should be developed and implemented in consultation with the U.S. Trade Representative, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Secretary of State, or their designees. |
Closed – Implemented
To improve coordination within USDA, the Secretary of Agriculture established a Policy-Level Group on Technical Barriers to Trade among the relevant USDA agency administrators. The group focuses on improving overall policy coordination and issue management within USDA and serves as USDA's point of reference for coordinating relevant trade policy issues with agencies outside of USDA. USDA has worked with relevant agencies outside USDA to develop a survey instrument to collect common and comprehensive information about SPS complaints. USDA has reviewed options for improving its information management of data on SPS and related trade issues. Finally, USDA continues to examine ways to better distribute available information about SPS issues and improve the transparency of its evaluation and prioritization process by integrating U.S. industry viewpoints into the process. It has initiated action to share information from the Interagency Working Group on SPS issues with the private sector.
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Topics
Agricultural industryAgricultural productsExportingFood inspectionForeign trade agreementsInteragency relationsInternational economic relationsInternational trade restrictionProduct safetyRestrictive trade practicesAgricultural trade