Congressional Support for U.S. Agricultural Export Market Development Programs

Legislation that would amend the U.S. Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to extend and expand the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program, which are administered by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), has now been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

The Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding American Agricultural Trade and Exports (CREAATE) Act was introduced in the House May 3, 2017, by its original sponsors U.S. Representatives Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine). Several other U.S. representatives have co-sponsored the bill since then. On Sept. 20, 2017, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the CREAATE Act in the Senate.

USW is a participant in both MAP and FMD, with funding awarded by FAS, based on annual matching funds from U.S. wheat farmers, currently through 17 state wheat commissions, evaluation of a detailed annual export market development plan and other competitive factors. USW uses program funds primarily for overseas staff and office expenses, and for trade servicing, technical support and other activities designed to help overseas wheat buyers, millers and food processors understand how to get the most value from U.S. wheat as specific ingredients in high quality wheat foods.

Statutory funding of $200 million per year for MAP and $34.5 million per year for FMD has been static since 2006 and 2002, respectively. In fiscal year 2017, FAS awarded MAP funds to 68 organizations and FMD funds to 23 organizations. CREAATE calls for phasing in additional annual funding for MAP to $400 million in FY 2023, and additional annual funding for FMD to $69 million in FY 2023.

The House version of the CREAATE Act is posted online here. To read more about MAP and FMD and other topics related to agricultural export market development, visit www.AgExportsCount.org.