The American Soybean Association (ASA), U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), and ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) have expressed strong support for the America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP), recently announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
With an estimated $285 million in funding for 2026, the AFTPP offers a strategic opportunity to enhance U.S. soybean export development, particularly in non-traditional markets. ASA President Caleb Ragland emphasized that the program reflects a commitment to expanding the global footprint of American agriculture and provides renewed momentum for soybean growers to deepen existing relationships and explore new markets.
USSEC Chair Janna Fritz called the AFTPP a valuable complement to existing programs like the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development, highlighting increased resources and a focus on emerging markets. WISHH Chair Morey Hill noted the program’s potential to empower new market opportunities, especially where demand for animal feed and human food proteins is growing.
The funding will help U.S. soybean farmers diversify export destinations, strengthen value-added processing, and showcase the sustainability of U.S. soy. By aligning resources toward strategic markets, the U.S. soy industry aims to boost competitiveness and support broader agricultural export goals.
