Specialty CROP Act of 2026

This bill would expand annual reporting requirements for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program. The USDA would be required to identify specific foreign policies or practices that create significant barriers to U.S. specialty crop exports and consult with the Office of the United States Trade Representative to gather public and advisory committee input. The resulting reports would be submitted to Congress and made available to the public, though they may include a classified annex if necessary.

This bill affects the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which must coordinate on expanded reporting and public comment processes. U.S. specialty crop exporters are impacted by the federal monitoring of foreign trade barriers, while the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables is specifically tasked with providing input on these reports. Additionally, members of the general public are invited to submit comments regarding foreign trade practices that may distort or limit the export of specialty crops.

• Expansion of specialty crop export reporting. The bill modifies annual reporting requirements for the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program to include specific data on the competitiveness of United States specialty crop exports.
• Identification of foreign trade barriers. The Department of Agriculture must report on specific acts, policies, and practices of foreign countries that create significant barriers to or distortions of U.S. specialty crop exports.
• Interagency and public consultation requirements. The Department of Agriculture is required to consult with the Office of the United States Trade Representative and seek input from the public and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables.
• Public disclosure and reporting standards. The report must be submitted to Congress in an unclassified format with the unclassified portion made available to the public, though a classified annex is permitted.

This bill expands and modifies existing annual reporting requirements for the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program, a Department of Agriculture initiative. It specifically updates the mandates for a congressionally required report on U.S. specialty crop trade issues to include detailed analysis of foreign trade barriers and distortions.

The bill aims to enhance the competitiveness of United States specialty crop exports by expanding federal reporting requirements to identify and address foreign trade barriers. It requires the Department of Agriculture to consult with trade officials and the public to document specific foreign policies or practices that distort or obstruct the export of these crops.