WASHINGTON — Leaders from three state agriculture departments and 29 U.S. agribusinesses and organizations will accompany USDA Under Secretary Alexis M. Taylor on a trade mission to Southeast Asia Oct. 30-Nov. 3 to expand export opportunities for U.S. food and farm products to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the world’s fourth-largest market.
“Increasing trade and investment between the United States and Southeast Asia is a key priority for the Biden-Harris Administration, as evidenced by the U.S.-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” said Taylor, who leads USDA’s Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs mission area. “Through this agribusiness trade mission, USDA is proud to support that partnership, which aims to increase bilateral commerce and investment between the United States and Southeast Asia.”
The delegation will travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Singapore — both billion-dollar export markets for U.S. food and agriculture. Trade mission participants will engage directly with potential buyers, receive in-depth market briefings from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and industry experts, and participate in site visits.
While in Singapore, Taylor will also meet with the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council Inc., the leading voice for more than 175 American companies working to promote mutually beneficial trade between the United States and 10 countries that comprise the ASEAN (Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam).
Taylor will be joined by California Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross, Montana Deputy Director of Agriculture Zachary Coccoli, and South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Hunter Roberts.
Among the businesses and organizations also sending representatives, includes: the American Egg Board, Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers, California Walnut Commission, CAS InterGlobal, East West International Group, Farm Breeze International, Food Export Association of the Midwest, Food Export USA, Idaho Potato Commission, National Pork Board, Organic Trade Association, Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance, U.S. Grains Council, U.S. International Foods LLC, and the U.S. Soybean Export Council.
The next USDA trade mission will take place Nov. 28–Dec. 1 to Angola.
