This is the first time comprehensive agricultural trade provisions have been included in a GATT agreement, which sets important precedents that could lead to significant changes in future rounds of negotiations. The opportunities and impacts of the GATT-UR agreement on U.S. agriculture are discussed in Leaflet 7. Summary Export markets are important to U.S. agriculture. Agricultural exports have accounted for 20 to 30 percent of total annual agricultural production over the last 20 years. Certain commodities are highly dependent on export markets, including feed grains and oilseeds.
Crops still dominate the export picture but the export mix is changing.
Livestock product exports have doubled over the last dozen years. Exports of high value crops, such as fruits and vegetables, account for an increasing share of crop exports. Exports have fluctuated significantly over the last 20 years. There are many reasons for this, including large changes in exchange rates, changes in U.S. farm and trade policies, and changes in economic, and farm and trade policies in other countries. The destinations for U.S. exports also are changing.