International Trade: Market-Oriented Strategy Would Help Lead U.S.
Agriculture Into the Future (Testimony, 06/23/94, GAO/T-GGD-94-177).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and American farmers face a
changing environment for world agricultural trade, one that includes
lowered trade barriers and emerging new markets. This testimony focuses
on how a shift from a traditional production-oriented approach to a
market-oriented approach would help USDA adapt to the increasingly
competitive world marketplace. GAO believes that in making this shift,
USDA will find it essential to employ a strategic marketing approach
that includes devising a long-term market development plan and changing
its approach to information gathering, personnel policies, and resource
allocation. Also, USDA will still need to stress programs to combat
unfair foreign trade practices and overcome market imperfections.
Shifting to a market-oriented approach may, however, reduce the size of
U.S. carryover stocks of staple grains. Previous oversupplies of these
stocks had the side effect of helping to ensure world food security.
Without them, the United States and other nations may need a different
strategy to address this problem.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-GGD-94-177
     TITLE:  International Trade: Market-Oriented Strategy Would Help 
             Lead U.S. Agriculture Into the Future
      DATE:  06/23/94
   SUBJECT:  Agricultural programs
             International trade
             Foreign trade policies
             Sales promotion
             Agricultural policies
             Exporting
             Agricultural industry
             International economic relations
             Commodity marketing
             Interagency relations

             
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