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practical and detailed data from USDA on such things as market 

 trends, product lines, and the potential of a given product in a 

 given market. 



Most of the professional staff at FAS have backgrounds in 

 agricultural economics; few have formal training in marketing. If 

 USDA is to help U.S. agriculture succeed in a sophisticated and 

 competitive world market, it will need staff with strong marketing 

 skills. FAS' recruiting profile and training programs should 

 ensure that it has staff with these necessary skills. 



Using its FAS attache service, USDA maintains an extensive presence 

 throughout the world, with about 75 posts located in about 60 

 countries. However, FAS does not have an overall long-term 

 strategic plan that guides the location and staffing of its posts. 

 A strategic marketing approach would focus USDA's overseas 

 resources on those countries that are likely to be the most 

 beneficial in terms of increasing U.S. agricultural exports. 



EXPORT PROMOTION PROGRAMS AND TRADE POLICY TOOLS AID IN 

 COMBATING UNFAIR FOREIGN TRADE PRACTICES AND MARKET IMPERFECTIONS 



While the just-completed Uruguay Round of GATT reached agreement to 

 reduce trade-distorting agricultural subsidies and other trade 

 barriers, tariffs and nontariff barriers remain. Even with a 

 market-oriented export strategy, USDA would still find it valuable 



