Because of this important role, the SIM and 
PIM teams have become the bridge between 
U.S. industries and foreign countries. As U.S. 
industries turn to the international arena to 
expand their market opportunities, the SIM 
and PIM teams are responsible for ensuring 
that sound scientific principles are the basis 
for trade agreements and that politics does 
not stand in the way of U.S. industries look- 
ing to export their agricultural commodities. 
Trade Support Team 
Essential to the success of the SIM and PIM 
teams is the work of APHIS’ Trade Support 
Team (TST). The TST is APHIS’ lead consult- 
ant on international standards and a support 
unit for SIM and PIM. Working within IS, 
TST personnel provide analytical and strate- 
gic guidance to help establish new markets 
for U.S. exports while protecting our 
Nation’s agricultural resources. The TST was 
established in 1992, when the United States 
was in the throes of negotiating the North 
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 
and the General Agreement on Tariffs and 
Trade Uruguay Round agreements, and try- 
ing to manage a growing number of SPS 
issues with its trading partners. 
The TST’s mission has changed little since 
its creation in 1992. The program continues 
to be the center for ensuring APHIS’ compli- 
ance with international trade obligations. In 
addition, the TST tracks pending trade issues 
and new trade policy initiatives and works to 
make sure that APHIS’ concern for protect- 
ing American agriculture is fully considered 
with each new trade-related endeavor. The 
TST is APHIS’ primary liaison to USDA's 
Foreign Agricultural Service and the office of 
the U.S. Trade Representative. This network 
helps maintain a coordinated, strategic 
approach to resolving SPS trade-barrier 
issues and other trade policy challenges fac- 
ing the agency. 
The TST aims to increase the effectiveness of 
APHIS’ technical trade negotiations with 
other countries by assisting in resolving SPS 
barrier situations, monitoring and analyzing 
the implications of emerging issues for the 
agency, developing strategic approaches to 
resolve conflict, and assisting in direct nego- 
tiations when appropriate. When it comes to 
opening new markets for U.S. goods and 
resolving issues that impede trade, the TST 
is another important link in the APHIS 
chain. 
Trade Discussions 
To communicate more effectively with for- 
eign countries, APHIS regularly sends repre- 
sentatives to trade discussions involving 
multiple countries. Known as multilaterals, 
these discussions may involve only countries 
from a certain region or may include coun- 
tries from all over the globe. Bilaterals are 
discussions involving the United States and 
only one other country. The SIM and PIM 
teams, along with the help of IS and the TST, 
are instrumental in planning and coordinat- 
ing many of these meetings, which give 
APHIS and its foreign counterparts the 
opportunity to discuss trade disputes, ongo- 
ing negotiations, SPS standards, and other 
issues related to trade. Often, these meetings 
rejuvenate talks that have reached a stale- 
mate or open new lines of communication to 
discuss issues that cannot be worked out 
over the phone. 
For example, during a bilateral meeting 
between the United States and South Africa 
in February 2000, an agreement was reached 
to allow U.S. farmers to export corn to that 
nation. Negotiations had stretched out for 
more than 5 years and could still be ongoing 
if not for the face-to-face meeting. The South 
African market is now estimated to be worth 
$75 million annually for U.S. corn 
producers. 
Ee ET TS 
IS plays a 
major role in 
ensuring that 
U.S. agricultural 
exports are 
accessible to 
foreign countries 
and U.S. producers 
have global 
opportunities 
to market 
their goods. 
Trade Negotiations and Compliance 3 
