dividual nations.
South Korea and Japan are also good markets, but trade relations
between the United States and those nations are more complex due
to differing regulations. One bright spot is Taiwan, which has completed a draft of its regulations and recently reached an export
arrangement in which it recognized the U.S. National Organic Pro-
“T“The Export Directory is a free service that lists
over 300 companies that export and offers
listings in eight languages.”
With the funding, Sustainable
Strategies will conduct comparative
gap analyses and overviews of international markets for U.S. organic products. Comparative gap analyses are
side-by-side comparisons of the U.S.
national organic standards and those
of designated countries. Each analysis
identifies the barriers to exporting
U.S. organic products to specific international specialty markets.
gram (NOP) as equivalent to its organic regulations (see accompanying box showing various types of international trade agreements).
Trade negotiations are also in progress around Korean import regulations.
Companies can also explore export opportunities in open access
markets, such as Dubai, Southeast Asia, Australia and Hong Kong.
Navigating a World of Regulations
Although all these markets offer opportunity, different organic
regulations and importing laws among countries can act as trade barriers. Resolving trade issues is a time-consuming and complex
process.
“The challenge of selling U.S. organic goods abroad is two-fold:
products have to meet basic standards in the foreign nation, as well
as its provisions specific to organic,” said Tiffany Landry, the Organic
Trade Association’s (OTA’s) export program coordinator. “Generally
speaking, emerging markets have open access, while more mature
markets have organic standards, which pose issues about equivalency
and recognition.”
Landry pointed to the example of Japan, which used to be an
open access market, but after developing organic regulations it now
prohibits certain substances from being used in organic products. “In
general, it’s useful to establish trade relationships before standards
are set,” she added.
Certification agencies, which tend to be aware of what is happening on the regulatory front, can assist companies seeking certification
in a given country. While this can be a complex process, it doesn’t
have to be. In some cases, Landry said, “it only requires checking a
few extra boxes on an application form.”
Working to Understand the Differences. U.S. officials are working
diligently to establish trade agreements to ensure continued free
trade and market access. Last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) approved
$750,000 in Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) funding
over three years to OTA, in partnership with Sustainable Strategies,
for projects that analyze technical trade barriers for U.S. organic
products.
Exporting Resources
There are several other resources
currently available to companies wishing to export. One is the U.S. Organic Export Directory, which was
developed by OTA through funding
from USDA’s Market Access Program
(MAP). The Export Directory, which
receives tens of thousands of visitors
per month, lists over 300 companies
that export and offers listings in eight
languages. The directory, which is a
free service for both OTA members
and non-members, can be found online at www.usorganicproducts.com.
The Export Directory is part of the
Organic Export Program, which seeks
to promote U.S. organic products to
the world market. Examples of activities within this program include:
• U.S. organic pavilions at international trade shows
• Opportunities for international
buyers to meet with organic suppil-ers in the United States
• Export educational programs
• U.S. organic market education
pieces for foreign buyers, including a booklet and video on buying
U.S. organic products, and
• The Organic Export Directory
Companies can also visit USDA’s
website to view GAIN reports produced by different agricultural attachés which offer updates on
marketing issues in countries around
the world ( www.fas.usda.gov/
info/factsheets/ reports.asp). OTA
also offers an International Trade
Forum.
