US agriculture secures greater market access in Vietnam, Thailand, and Brazil

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The Trump administration is continuing to break down non-tariff barriers and defend current market access, and these latest actions are some of the many wins ahead for American producers. US dairy producers will have access maintained to Brazil, citrus and apple growers will be able to sell more products to Thailand, and stone fruit growers will face lower non-tariff trade barriers in Vietnam as a result of action taken by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“American farmers and ranchers grow the safest, most abundant food supply in the world. Under President Trump’s leadership, I have fought to give our producers greater access to markets across the globe. Expanded access to Brazil, Thailand, and Vietnam will result in millions in added trade for the US. As we continue to bring America into a new golden age of prosperity, the best is yet to come for our farmers and ranchers,” said Secretary Rollins.

These trade wins follow four years of inaction by the Biden administration, which caused the agricultural trade balance to go from a trade surplus under President Trump to a nearly $50 billion trade deficit under President Biden. Secretary Rollins has travelled to the UK and Italy and will travel to Japan, Vietnam, India, Peru, and Brazil over the next three months to fight for American farmers and ranchers. Other USDA trade missions this year include the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mexico.

On June 6, Vietnam’s Plant Production and Protection Department (PPPD) approved exports of fresh peaches and nectarines from California to Vietnam using a recognised science-based approach. This is the result of negotiations by the US's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service with PPPD, and it affirms that the systems approach used by American stone fruit producers is safe and effective. The market value for California peaches and nectarines into Vietnam is approximately $2.5 million annually.

On June 4, Thailand’s Department of Agriculture (DOA) approved the re-opening of market access for US apples from the eastern states of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Viginia. Prior to this decision, only US apples from California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington were approved to be exported to Thailand.

In February 2024, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) formally submitted a request with the required information to re-open the apple market for eastern US states to Thailand. The value of US apple exports is approximately $20 million annually for western US apples, and the estimated additional value of eastern US apple exports to Thailand is expected to approximate $5 million annually.

In addition to expanded market access for US apple producers, on June 4, Thailand’s DOA amended the import requirements for citrus fruits from Arizona. The amendment allows for the export of citrus produced in Arizona but packed and shipped from California. This comes as the result of requests from APHIS and is a major shift from previous requirements that required citrus from Arizona to also be packed in Arizona. The estimated value of citrus from Arizona to Thailand is expected to be approximately $385,000 annually.

On June 9, Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) lifted its suspension on US dairy company Agropur from exporting whey protein concentrate powder. On May 22, MAPA suspended one US plant from exporting the product to Brazil due to lab results showing protein levels below 80 per cent.

After quick action by the Foreign Agricultural Service and Agricultural Marketing Service to address the irregularities, MAPA agreed to lift the suspension less than three weeks after it was imposed. Last year, the US exported $83 million of whey protein concentrate powder to Brazil.

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