America First Trade Promotion Program

First announced in September as a part of Secretary Brooke Rollins’ and Under Secretary Lindberg’s three-point trade plan, the America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP) is designed to help exporters leverage market opportunities and ensure continuity of relationships and trust. It complements USDA’s other export promotion programs. Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Michelle Bekkering first shared the opening of applications with the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC) at its Annual Workshop this week. 

“USDA is investing in programs that help U.S. farmers and ranchers sell the bountiful and exceptional U.S. agricultural products produced by our millions of hardworking American farmers, ranchers, and producers,” said Bekkering. 

AFTPP funds are available to non-profit U.S. agricultural trade organizations, non-profit State Regional Trade Groups, U.S. agricultural cooperatives, and state agencies that conduct approved market development activities to foster expanded exports and market diversification by encouraging the development, maintenance, and expansion of diverse commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and products.