Market Access & Promotion
Rice is one of the world’s most widely consumed grains and the primary dietary staple for more than half the world’s population. American rice farmers grow 9 million tons of rice each year, just more than half of which is exported to more than 120 countries.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Market Access Program (MAP), Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program, and Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) help the rice industry open foreign markets and promote our products abroad, with a proven track record of success in more than 30 overseas markets. Learn more about our international market promotions below.
International Promotions
Recent News
From left: Eszter Somogyi, Ag Secy Brooke Rollins, Sarah Moran, and AR rice farmer Mark Isbell
May 16, 2025
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – On the heels of the announcement of last week’s US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) aimed at removing trade barriers and increasing economic partnership for both countries, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins came here on her first foreign government visit.
Following a cooperator roundtable where Secretary Rollins heard about challenges and opportunities from various U.S. commodities in the UK market, USA Rice’s Sarah Moran, Eszter Somogyi, and Arkansas rice farmer Mark Isbell joined Rollins on her visits to a wholesaler and a local mill utilizing U.S. rice.
At Wanis Foods, a major local wholesaler serving the Afro-Caribbean community in the UK, Rollins had the opportunity to taste their U.S. parboiled long grain rice brand, Tropical Sun, cooked up in jollof and biryani. The group then visited Tilda Rice mill in Rainham to see Arkansas-grown long grain rice being packed into their Tilda bags with “U.S-grown” branding, and discuss the UK rice market with the UK Rice Association including possible win-wins for both the UK and the US.
“Secretary Rollins is a champion for agriculture and was tireless in her desire to learn more about U.S. rice in this market,” said USA Rice COO Sarah Moran. “The EPD announced last week this is just the beginning of improvements in trade with the UK, and the Secretary said rice was at the top of her list for additional improvements.”
U.S. rice currently faces tariffs and a 13,427 MT milled rice quota while other suppliers such as India, Pakistan, Australia, the EU, and others enjoy duty-free and quota-free access for certain types of rice to this market which is one of the United States’ oldest trading partners.
USA Rice estimates exports could increase to $100 million with open and free access to this country which produces no rice of its own.