USDA Says Farm Trade Deficit Halved to $25 Billion

The U.S. agricultural trade deficit has fallen from roughly $50 billion to $25 billion, according to USDA Acting Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Michelle Bekkering, who attributed the improvement to new trade frameworks and expanded access to foreign markets.

Bekkering laid out the figures in an interview with Nick Papagni on the AgNet News Hour, where she discussed export opportunities for California's specialty crop growers and the department's trade agenda for the coming years.

Who is driving the USDA trade agenda?

Bekkering, previously deputy under secretary alongside Luke Lindberg, said her priority is maintaining momentum on USDA's international trade initiatives while American farmers face rising input costs and international competition.

She brings a producer's perspective. Bekkering grew up on a family farm in northwest Iowa and said she understands firsthand the profitability challenges producers face as input costs climb.

The takeaway: USDA wants to keep trade deals moving while farm margins stay tight.

Which California commodities are in play?

USDA is pursuing export opportunities for a specific California basket:

• Table grapes
• Dairy products
• Almonds
• Walnuts
• Pistachios
• Other specialty crops

Rather than leaning on established trading partners, Bekkering said USDA is working to diversify agricultural exports and build relationships with emerging markets. For California growers facing high production costs, she stressed that USDA recognizes the importance of maintaining premium prices rather than competing solely on cost — a position that directly addresses the margin pressure on high-input specialty crop operations.

The takeaway: premium pricing, not cost competition, is USDA's stated strategy for California exports.

How do the trade missions work?

A central tool is USDA's agricultural trade missions, which place American producers and agribusinesses directly in front of international buyers. Bekkering described the format bluntly: "speed dating for trade." USDA arranges individual meetings designed to connect exporters with buyers already interested in their products.

The schedule is concrete. Upcoming missions include Vietnam and Singapore, with eight additional missions planned for 2027.

What about China, Mexico and food aid?

The interview also covered USDA's negotiating posture on agricultural market access, including:

• Efforts to improve market access in China
• Expanding ethanol exports to Mexico

Bekkering discussed the administration's approach to international food assistance, explaining that USDA aims to address global hunger while creating additional demand for American-grown agricultural products — pairing humanitarian policy with commercial outlets for U.S. farm output.

She encouraged agricultural businesses interested in exporting to explore USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service programs and join the upcoming trade missions.

The takeaway: food aid and market access are being run as complementary demand-builders for U.S. agriculture.

What comes next

With the trade deficit reportedly halved and ten trade missions on the calendar through 2027, Bekkering signaled that USDA will keep pressing new markets — from Southeast Asia to Mexico's ethanol demand — as the main lever for supporting growers through a high-cost production cycle.