News

USDA trade mission highlights new market opportunities in Malaysia

The USDA’s Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs says the agency has started the year leading some trade missions that could help expand market access for U.S. producers.

Luke Lindberg tells Brownfield he recently returned from trade meetings in Malaysia.

“Continued work on implementing the trade agreement that President Trump negotiated and signed just last year,” he said. “Malaysia is a great market opportunity for many of our producer groups.”

He says the Malaysian government has officially recognized the U.S. food system as safe.

“What that really does for our producers is get rid of a lot of the uncertainty they might have experienced in that market in the past. Their products may have been discriminated against, or they faced non-tariff barriers. It gives us a level playing field on which to compete.”

Lindberg says there were also some positive tariff developments.

“They also brought down tariffs on 99% of our agricultural goods and so we have a new playing field. When our producers can compete on a fair and level playing field we usually win.”

The USDA has an additional trade mission planned in Indonesia, scheduled for February 2-6. During the visit, staff with the Foreign Agricultural Service will host market briefings, site visits, and business-to-business meetings with buyers from Indonesia, Malaysia and Timor-Leste. 

Luke Lindberg Audio Interview: