USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins is set to continue her aggressive international trade agenda with upcoming visits to Italy, India, Vietnam, Japan and South America, aiming to promote U.S. agricultural exports and negotiate improved market access for American farmers and ranchers. After concluding a high-profile trade mission to the United Kingdom— where she advocated for lower tariffs and greater market access for U.S. products following a new U.S./UK trade deal —Rollins is now turning her attention to other major global markets. In Italy, Rollins will address longstanding non-tariff barriers that have limited U.S. agricultural exports, seeking to open new opportunities for American producers.
Following her stop in Italy, Rollins will travel to India, Vietnam and Japan, where she has indicated plans to push for increased imports of American farm products and to help rectify persistent trade imbalances. The U.S. currently faces a $1.3 billion agricultural trade deficit with India and is also seeking to address significant deficits with Brazil and other countries. Rollins’ mission includes advocating for science-based regulatory alignment and fairer treatment of U.S. products in these markets.
In Japan, intensive ministerial negotiations are already underway, with both countries aiming for a mutually beneficial deal as early as June (although Japanese elections in July could impact the timing). Rollins is expected to press for market-opening measures for key U.S. commodities, including beef, pork, rice, and specialty crops, while addressing Japanese tariffs and regulatory barriers.
The broader effort is part of a Trump administration push to reverse what it describes as a period of trade stagnation and deficits under the previous administration, with a renewed focus on putting “Farmers First” and expanding the global reach of American agriculture.
Rollins’ travel agenda over the next several months also includes visits to Peru and Brazil, as well as participation in additional USDA trade missions to markets such as the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Côte d’Ivoire and Mexico.
Rollins emphasized the importance of these missions, stating, “Our farmers and ranchers produce the safest, highest quality food in the world, and I can’t wait for consumers across the globe to get more of a taste of the beef, poultry, pork, seafood, rice, specialty crops, and all the agricultural exports America has to offer.” By targeting key partners and emerging markets, Rollins aims to secure new export opportunities, reduce trade deficits, and ensure American producers remain competitive on the world stage.
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