USDA pages offer country-specific export information

WASHINGTON – In an effort to expand information available to exporters, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) recently added country pages to its Web site.

Grouped into four regions – Western Hemisphere, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and Asia and Oceania – these country pages provide essential demographic, economic and political information.

“These new country pages provide a birds’ eye view of essen-tial information about countries,” said FAS Administrator Michael Michener. “Whether you are a U.S. business thinking about marketing your product in a country, an experienced exporter looking for a specific opportunity or a researcher, these pages will help answer your questions. Our overall goal continues to be about putting more information about our operations and decisions online and readily available to the public.”

The new country pages will allow users to find comprehensive links, all in one place, on import requirements for each country, as well as travel and market information, the status of trade negotiations, trade development and important contacts. These pages are available on the FAS Web site at www.fas.usda.gov/countryinfo.asp.

In addition, the FAS Web site includes many searchable databases providing export, import, production, supply, and distribution data, as well as export sales reports and market reports from U.S. agricultural trade experts stationed in 97 offices around the world. A link to this information may be found at www.fas.usda.gov/fassearch.asp.

“U.S. agricultural exports benefit our entire economy and we want the information we provide on our Web site to effectively assist the U.S. agricultural industry in expanding their economic opportunities in the international marketplace,” said Michener.

For more information on the new country pages or other information on the FAS Web site, contact the FAS Public Affairs Office at (202) 720-7115.