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United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

APHIS works to protect the health and value of American agriculture and natural resources. APHIS International Services (IS) supports this mission in an international environment by: (1) collaborating with foreign partners to control pests and diseases before they can harm the U.S.; (2) facilitating safe agricultural trade; (3) ensuring effective and efficient management of internationally-based programs; and (4) investing in international capacity-building with foreign counterparts to build technical and regulatory skills that prevent the spread of damaging pests and diseases.

Program Priorities

  • USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue Visits Japan

    May 13, 2019 — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was in Japan as part of a meeting of Western Hemisphere agriculture leaders meeting on the margins of the G-20 Agricultural Ministerial in Niigata, Japan. On Monday, Secretary Perdue stopped to meet with U.S. and Japan trade negotiators in Tokyo.  Secretary Perdue urged Japan to move swiftly to finalize a trade deal with Washington on farm products and other goods, and to recognize that the U.S. is a “premier customer” for Japan.  Secretary Perdue took time to meet with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty and the U.S. Embassy Team including APHIS-International Services staff.


  • APHIS Opens New Market for U.S. Exports of Used Cooking Oil

    Apr. 30, 2019 — APHIS met with officials from the Portuguese Ministry of Animal Health and representatives of the border inspection posts (BIPs) in Lisbon, Portugal. At the last such meeting held in 2014, Portugal informed APHIS they did not allow the import of used cooking oil, and APHIS presented the case for why Portugal should allow the import of used cooking oil intended for the manufacture of biodiesel as allowed by certain other EU Member States. At the April 23 meeting, Portugal verified that they had decided to open the market for used cooking oil from the United States under favorable conditions that do not require government certification. The estimated value of this market accomplishment is $25 million per year.

  • New Access for U.S. Beef, Poultry, and Egg Products to Tunisia

    On April 17, USTR Lighthizer and Secretary Purdue announced that the governments of Tunisia and the United States have finalized certificates to allow exports of U.S. beef, poultry and egg products to Tunisia. This follows meetings between U.S. and Tunisian officials on the safety and health certificates for these products. In 2018, U.S. exports of agricultural products to Tunisia exceeded $264 million. Initial estimates are that Tunisia’s market for U.S. beef, poultry and egg products is $5-10 million annually, with room for growth.

  • Surge in U.S. Agricultural Exports to EU in 2018

    Mar. 25, 2019 - U.S. agricultural exports to the 28 member countries of the European Union rose 18% to $13.5 billion in 2018. This increase made the EU the third largest market for U.S. agricultural exports last year (after Canada and Mexico). In 2017, the EU was only the 5th largest market, with U.S. agricultural exports worth $11.4 billion. Soybeans and soybean meal accounted for almost all ($1.8 billion out of $2.1 billion) of the increase of U.S. agricultural exports to the EU in 2018. Soybean exports to the EU increased 88% in 2018 to $3.3 billion, while soybean meal exports jumped 255% to $357 million. The remainder of the increase was accounted for by tractors and, to a lesser extent, feed grains (mostly corn).

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