Following is the text of USDA's press release:

(Note: In the text "billion" equals 1,000 million.)

BUSH ADMINISTRATION REMAINS COMMITTED TO INCREASING TRADE OPPORTUNITIES FOR U.S AGRICULTURE

Announces Over $100 Million to Promote U.S. Food and Agricultural Products Overseas

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2002 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman and U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick today reaffirmed the Bush Administration's commitment to open new markets for U.S. agricultural goods and announced the release of over $100 million in Market Access Program [MAP] and Quality Samples Program [QSP] funds to promote U.S. agriculture products overseas.

Veneman and Zoellick met with agricultural groups to discuss a framework for boosting agricultural exports, which includes: the use of trade promotion programs for agriculture products overseas; aggressive plans for world trade negotiations and free trade agreements; attacks on trade barriers and subsidies that hurt U.S. agriculture; and efforts to increase world demand through economic growth and sustainable development.

"Access to overseas markets is critical to American agriculture. Partnership programs such as the Market Access Program and the Quality Samples Program are effective tools to promote U.S. agricultural exports," stated Veneman. "The ability of our farmers and ranchers to take full advantage of export markets also depends on passage of Trade Promotion Authority [TPA]. In addition, the new trade talks launched in Doha last year offer tremendous potential to America's producers by expanding access to growing foreign markets."

"We need Trade Promotion Authority to open markets for our farmers and ranchers. With TPA the United States will be able to negotiate from a position of strength," said Zoellick. "The United States is exerting vigorous leadership in the WTO, and will push for liberalized trade in the Doha negotiations."

Veneman announced that 67 U.S. trade organizations would receive $90 million in funding under the 2002 Farm Bill Market Access Program. MAP provides trade associations, state and regional trade groups and agricultural cooperatives a means to promote their products and build important markets overseas. The new farm law also provides an additional $10 million for MAP for fiscal year 2002. Veneman noted that those funds would be allocated later this summer. The 2002 Farm Bill provides for significant increases to MAP more than doubling funding to $200 million annually by 2006, the first increases to the program since 1996.

In addition, some 17 organizations would share $1.34 million in funds for QSP to help create export sales by promoting awareness of U.S. agricultural products among new foreign buyers. The program provides samples of agricultural commodities to foreign importers so that U.S. agribusinesses can develop new business partnerships overseas. A second round of funding totaling $1.16 million is expected to be available for application in July.

The United States exports more than $1 billion of agricultural products each week, generating one fourth of farm income. Last year, U.S. agricultural exports were valued at $51 billion. This year, they could reach $54.5 billion, producing a trade surplus of $14.5 billion. Agriculture generally ranks among the top six U.S. industry groups in export sales, accounting for about five percent of the nation's total exports.