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The following GAIN reports were released on July 15, 2026. _______
Brazil: Resignation of Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock's Secretary of Trade and International AffairsOn July 13, 2026, Mr. Luis Rua, Secretary of Trade and International Affairs at the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), announced his resignation. Deputy Secretary Augusto Billi will serve as Acting Secretary until the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock nominates a permanent replacement. On July 11, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency opened a consultation on proposed regulatory changes to the Enhanced Feed Ban for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The proposed changes are a result of Canada’s negligible risk status for BSE, recognized by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) in 2021. The changes will more closely align Canada’s regulatory approach to that of the United States. The consultation is open until September 9, 2026. On July 2, 2026, the Colombian Institute for Agriculture (ICA) issued Resolution 12996, lifting its ban on the importation of pork offal and swine genetics from the United States. This resolution repeals ICA's Resolution 9156, which had suspended, since May 15, 2026, the issuance of import permits for swine genetics, pork offal, and pork offal-containing products from the United States due to concerns over Aujeszky's disease. With this repeal, the United States regains access to a Colombian market valued at more than $2 million annually in pork offal. Colombia’s Institute for the Surveillance of Drugs and Foods (INVIMA) released a draft regulation on June 30, 2026, establishing new procedures for recognizing and registering foreign facilities that manufacture and export food products classified as “high-risk” including dairy products, meat and meat products, egg products, and seafood. The new procedures would require foreign facilities that manufacture these high-risk products to follow additional registration requirements and undergo possible on-site audits. The draft regulation specifically excludes the United States and other countries that maintain free trade agreements with Colombia, granting U.S. facilities a competitive advantage. For U.S. exporters, the process to register new facilities remains unchanged under current procedures.
Favorable weather and above-average rainfall are driving record wheat production (22.5 MMT) and a sharp rebound in barley output (8.1 MMT), though heavy spring rains delayed harvests and caused quality issues in southern and southeastern regions. Wheat consumption is expected to rise largely due to increased feed use, while Turkiye's wheat imports and exports remain substantial, supported by TMO's newly doubled intervention prices for the 2026 harvest. Corn production is forecast to fall to 7.1 MMT as farmers shift toward wheat, oilseeds, and vegetables in Central Anatolia and the Aegean due to weak cotton prices. Rice area and production are set to grow modestly, with imports easing as domestic supply improves, though industry concerns persist that current tariffs are insufficient to protect local producers from cheaper imports. Across all four crops, stocks are generally rising in tandem with strong harvests, except for rice, which is expected to see a modest stock decline. Starting June 1, 2026, Vietnam took a significant step in its energy transition by requiring bioethanol blending in all gasoline grades, meaning pure fossil gasoline is no longer commercially available. Biodiesel blending continues to be voluntary for now. To keep up with growing demand, Vietnam is ramping up both domestic bioethanol production and imports. The following GAIN reports were released on July 14, 2026. _______
The 2026 spring planting season in Kazakhstan was characterized by effective government coordination and investment, diversified cropping favoring high-margin crops, timely allocation of machinery and inputs, and successful national coverage, culminating in a record total sowing area aligned with the agronomic calendar. However, lower precipitation and hot temperatures in May-June have raised concerns and are expected to result in lower yields.
USDA Accepting Applications for Agribusiness Trade Mission to VietnamWashington, D.C., July 15 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service is now accepting applications for its Agribusiness Trade Mission to Vietnam, Nov. 9-12. This mission to Ho Chi Minh City will directly connect American farmers, ranchers and producers with buyers in one of the fastest growing and rapidly developing markets in Asia. USDA is accepting applications through July 27. “Vietnam is a clear example of how the administration’s policies are leading to real successes, opening up markets, breaking export records, and reducing historically high agricultural trade deficits,” said USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg. “This mission will build on our rapid response TRUMP mission we just wrapped up in March and lock in wins for American farmers and agricultural producers in this critical market.” Vietnam is the seventh-largest export market for U.S. agriculture – valued at $5.6 billion in 2025 – making the U.S. Vietnam’s second-largest supplier of agricultural goods. With a population of more than 100 million, Vietnam is also Southeast Asia’s third-most-populous country. Combined with rising incomes and a rapidly growing gross domestic product, Vietnam offers U.S. agribusinesses tremendous export potential, due to its booming food processing, hospitality, and retail sectors, especially for products including:
Younger Vietnamese consumers are also putting greater emphasis on health and wellness, which opens opportunities for “free-from” and “better-for-you” products from American health and wellness brands, organic producers and premium snack manufacturers. The mission directly connects U.S. exporters with potential buyers from both Vietnam and Cambodia during site visits and targeted business-to-business meetings. FAS staff will also host networking events and in-depth market briefings. More information on this trade mission is at https://www.fas.usda.gov/
### USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. USDA Signs Agreement Mobilizing $235 Million in American Commodities for East Africa Food AidAgreement mandates 100 percent of U.S.-sourced crops to support American producers, enforces strict fraud protections and promotes self-reliance
Washington, D.C., July 14, 2026 – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an agreement in principle with Catholic Relief Services to deliver up to $235 million in emergency food and nutrition assistance to millions of people facing extreme hunger and malnutrition in Sudan and Ethiopia. Authorized under Title II of the Food for Peace Act, this effort mobilizes more than 110,000 metric tons of U.S.-grown agricultural commodities. Under USDA’s Farmers First strategy, all commodities distributed through these programs will be of 100 percent U.S. origin – securing domestic sup “American farmers feed, fuel, and clothe the world, and under President Trump’s leadership, we’re utilizing that bounty to serve those in need while ensuring that the benefits of U.S. food aid flow back to America’s hardworking farmers, ranchers, and producers that make this assistance possible,” said USDA’s Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Michelle Bekkering. “We’re also enforcing strict accountability so that aid goes to those who actually need it, safeguarding hard-earned taxpayer dollars, and delivering aid that builds self-reliance instead of long-term dependence.” The agreement leverages Catholic Relief Services’ operational footprints in East Africa, including the Sudan Emergency Project and the Joint Emergency Operation in Ethiopia. This initiative follows the transfer of the Food for Peace Title II program to USDA, which is moving quickly to return the program to its core function of delivering lifesaving food assistance that directs economic benefits back to American producers. The following GAIN reports were released on July 13, 2026._______
Argentina’s dairy sector is forecast to continue its recovery in calendar year (CY) 2026, with Post projecting milk production at 11.72 MMT, up 2 percent from CY2025, supported by favorable weather, strong pasture conditions, and improved forage availability. Higher milk output is expected to drive growth across major dairy products, with whole milk powder production forecast at 210,000 MT, cheese at 540,000 MT, skim milk powder at 50,000 MT, and butter at 37,000 MT. Exports are also projected to increase, led by whole milk powder, cheese, and skim milk powder, with Brazil remaining Argentina’s key export market. Despite improved production conditions, producer margins remain constrained by lower milk prices and elevated input costs.
Canada remains one of the two largest markets for United States consumer-oriented agricultural products, with U.S. exports of approximately $20 billion in 2025. The U.S. share of Canada's consumer-oriented imports declined to roughly 51 percent in 2025, from 55 percent in 2024, under the combined pressure of a weaker Canadian dollar, a strengthening "buy Canadian" movement, and provincial restrictions on U.S. alcoholic beverages. Canada's roughly $89 billion foodservice sector nonetheless expanded 5.9 percent and continues to favor U.S. premium proteins, non-alcoholic and ready-to-drink beverages, and value-oriented convenience products. Distribution is concentrated nationally yet competitive regionally. U.S. exporters that secure a Canadian distributor or broker and enter one region at a time remain well positioned to capture this demand. FAS China forecasts chicken meat production will reach 19.0 MMT in 2027, driven by white broiler expansion, as large integrated companies continue investing in new capacity. Higher domestic production is outpacing demand growth, pushing imports lower while exports surge — China's chicken meat exports by volume rose 51 percent year-on-year during January–May 2026, reaching 546,000 MT. Post raised its 2026 production and export estimates and lowered its 2026 import estimate based on January-June 2026 trade data. Following the May 2026 presidential summit in Beijing, China restored poultry market access for 17 U.S. states based on HPAI status, with the near-term impact on U.S. poultry exports to China is expected to be limited.
The Dutch food retail market remains one of the most attractive entry points for U.S. consumer-oriented food products due to its high purchasing power, sophisticated retail sector, and role as a distribution hub for Northwestern Europe. The turnover of the Dutch retail sector was valued at $58 billion in 2025. The sector is relatively consolidated, with the two largest food retailers controlling almost 60 percent of the market. Consumers visit multiple local supermarkets and increasingly choose private label products. At the same time the demand for sustainably produced products, products that are healthy and nutritious, and affordable convenience products remains strong. E-commerce is now the fastest-growing retail channel and is estimated to generate almost $5 billion in revenue, with just over eight percent of supermarket turnover. As the fifth-largest export market for U.S. agricultural and related products worldwide, the Republic of Korea (ROK) continues to offer significant opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural exports. In 2025, Korea imported approximately $46 billion worth of agricultural and related products from global suppliers, with the United States maintaining its position as the leading supplier, accounting for more than one-fifth of total imports. Other major suppliers included China, EU, Australia, Vietnam, Brazil, and Indonesia.
This report provides an update on the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) and Agricultural Safeguard (ASG) product fill rates. Notable developments this month include the June 12 import rights auctions for powdered milk and natural honey, though the honey auction failed due to an insufficient number of bidders. For oranges, the 2026 TRQ allocation of 3,782 metric tons (MT) is scheduled to be allocated in August 2026, with an import implementation period of September 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027. On the ASG front, sesame seeds (95.49 percent filled) and cereal/grain products (96.29 percent filled) are approaching their respective safeguard trigger levels. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.
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