Oversight Hearing - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs

The House Appropriations Committee held an oversight hearing with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), led by Under Secretary Luke Lindberg, focusing on trade and foreign agricultural affairs. Key topics included efforts to reduce the agricultural trade deficit, expand market access for U.S. commodities, and enforce trade agreements, particularly under the "America First" trade policy. The committee discussed the recent transfer of the Food for Peace program administration from USAID to USDA, highlighting procurement plans for American-grown commodities and concerns about staffing and program execution. Members emphasized the importance of supporting American farmers through trade enforcement, addressing unfair imports, and promoting domestic procurement policies, including in nutrition assistance programs. The hearing also covered challenges related to tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and international standards affecting U.S. agricultural exports, with a focus on specialty crops, biofuels, and key markets such as China, Canada, Mexico, and India. The USDA outlined ongoing trade missions and interagency coordination to strengthen U.S. agricultural competitiveness globally.