United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office General Government Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1994-06-23 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:T-GGD-94-177 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-94-177 P0b002ee18037a9d2 f:tgg94177 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-94-177 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-94-177 T-GGD-94-177 Agricultural programs International trade Foreign trade policies Sales promotion Agricultural policies Exporting Agricultural industry International economic relations Commodity marketing Interagency relations Testimony GGD 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. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-94-177/html/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-94-177.htm GAO/T-GGD-94-177 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-94-177 Testimony GAO/T-GGD-94-177; International Trade: Market-Oriented Strategy Would Help Lead U.S. Agriculture Into the Future; Agricultural programs International trade Foreign trade policies Sales promotion Agricultural policies Exporting Agricultural industry International economic relations Commodity marketing Interagency relations