Foreign Agricultural Service Awards $8.4M to Expand Export Market for U.S. Goods

Washington, D.C., April 2, 2026 - Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service announced more than $8.4 million in funding through three proven programs: the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program, the Emerging Markets Program (EMP) and the Quality Samples Program (QSP).

All three programs help deliver measurable results for American farmers, ranchers and producers by reducing technical trade barriers, opening new markets, and meeting a growing international demand for high-quality U.S. agricultural products.

"These programs drive growth for U.S. agricultural exports, giving American farmers and ranchers the tools they need to break through unnecessary trade barriers and explore new markets," said Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg. "They're also a critical part of the Trump Administration's efforts to end the Biden-era agricultural trade deficit and bring prosperity back to rural America."

USDA will award:

• $3.5 million through TASC to nine U.S. recipients to address sanitary, phytosanitary, or technical barriers that limit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. Projects include pre-clearance programs, workshops, field visits, study tours, and pest and disease research.
• $3.8 million through EMP to 16 U.S. recipients working to expand access to emerging markets and advance market development. Funding supports market assessments, subsistence travel and technical assistance to promote long-term export growth.
• $1.1 million through QSP to eight U.S. recipients to provide samples of U.S. agricultural products to potential overseas buyers. Buyers can test these samples to confirm their high quality and performance, leading to increased commercial demand for U.S. goods.

This is only the initial tranche of funding for TASC, EMP, and QSP. FAS expects to award three more tranches in FY 2026.

To learn more about these and other FAS programs, visit http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs.