The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) last week released state-specific fact sheets detailing the importance of agriculture trade for all 50 states. Each fact sheet lists the top five agricultural exports in 2012 and the number of U.S. jobs created by agriculture.

In addition, the fact sheets highlight the need for Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which USDA calls a critical tool in the administration’s efforts to seek approval of trade agreements “that support and create U.S. jobs while helping American agriculture to compete more successfully in an ever-expanding global marketplace.

USDA also offers fact sheets on the two trade agreements the U.S. is currently negotiating:

• Trans-Pacific Partnership
• Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

For more information, contact Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, at bhughes@idfa.org.