2026 America First Trade Promotion Program

The America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP), administered by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, supports the expansion and diversification of U.S. agricultural exports through funding awards to eligible nonprofit trade organizations, cooperatives, and state agencies. Rooted in the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act, the AFTPP is designed to advance the Administration’s America First agenda by fostering trade relationships in non-traditional and high-potential markets that yield long-term benefits for U.S. agricultural producers. This competitive funding opportunity offers up to $285 million in total program funding, with an estimated 60 awards anticipated. Financial assistance is intended to co-fund promotional and market development activities that are innovative and aligned with U.S. trade goals. Tobacco is explicitly excluded, but all other U.S. agricultural commodities are eligible for promotion. Proposed activities must avoid ineligible markets such as China (including Hong Kong and Macau), and demonstrate strong potential for return on investment, measurable impacts, and alignment with the Administration’s strategic interests. Applications are open to nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations, nonprofit State Regional Trade Groups (SRTGs), agricultural cooperatives, and U.S. state agencies. Eligible applicants must be registered and active in SAM.gov at the time of submission. A cost-share is required: at least 10% for generic activities and 50% (1:1 match) for branded promotional efforts. Awards are structured as grants with recipients independently implementing projects under USDA oversight. The required application must be submitted via the Unified Export Strategy (UES) system by January 23, 2026, at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. Questions and requests for UES access must be received by January 2, 2026. Each application must include a comprehensive marketing plan detailing participant profiles, export goals, promoted commodities, targeted markets, constraints, proposed activities, and administrative costs. Branded promotion applicants must also detail fund allocation criteria and publicity strategies for industry participation. Evaluation of applications follows a structured five-phase process. Reviewers assess strategic planning, implementation methodology, performance metrics, budget reasonableness, and alignment with program goals. Past performance and administrative capacity are also evaluated. The highest-ranked applications, based on review scores and budget analysis, are advanced for final approval by USDA/FAS leadership. Performance reporting, including quarterly outcomes and final financials, is mandatory. The grant period’s closeout occurs within six months post-performance, with funds reclaimed for non-compliant uses. Contact for this opportunity is Curt Alt (curt.alt@usda.gov, 202-690-4784), available Monday through Friday during standard Eastern business hours. The program is recurring on an annual basis, with the next anticipated cycle expected to open in January 2027.

Showcase innovation, prioritize non-traditional markets, ensure measurable outcomes, avoid ineligible markets (e.g., China)