USDA Launches Effort to Expand Agricultural Exports to New Zealand, Australia, Pacific Islands

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, August 29, 2026 - U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg arrived in Wellington this week to meet with senior New Zealand government ministers and agricultural importers ahead of the U.S. agribusiness trade mission to Australia, Aug. 30 to Sept. 2.

After wrapping up in New Zealand, Under Secretary Lindberg will travel to Melbourne to lead the Australia trade mission, which aims to expand export opportunities for American producers across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. The U.S. delegation includes 38 U.S. agribusinesses, trade organizations and 10 state departments of agriculture. Participants will meet directly with buyers, importers and distributors from across the region through business-to-business meetings, market briefings, site visits and networking events.

"No one speaks to the quality and innovation of American agriculture better than the producers and agribusinesses themselves-they know what it takes to produce the best food, fuel and fiber in the world," said Under Secretary Lindberg. "I'm grateful to lead this delegation as we showcase the best of what American agriculture has to offer and forge long-lasting commercial relationships that turn market access into market share for our hardworking American farmers, ranchers and producers."

Australia is a significant and growing market for U.S. agriculture. In 2025, the country imported nearly $1.7 billion in U.S. agricultural products, making it the 18th-largest market for American agricultural exports. Consumer-oriented products-including packaged foods, beverages, meat and dairy products-accounted for around 85% of that value.

The mission coincides with Fine Food Australia, where the United States will serve as the show's inaugural Official Country Partner. The USA Pavilion will showcase a wide range of American food and agricultural products and connect U.S. suppliers directly with Australian buyers and industry leaders.

In addition to meetings and market briefings, delegates will take part in promotional events designed to highlight quality, innovation, and reliability in American agriculture, strengthening long-term commercial relationships throughout the region.

In 2025, USDA trade missions connected more than 250 U.S. companies with buyers in Hong Kong, Thailand, Peru, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Taiwan and Mexico, generating projected 12-month sales of $125 million. So far in 2026, USDA has sent delegations to Malaysia, Indonesia, Guatemala, El Salvador, the Philippines, Vietnam, Argentina and Ecuador.

Additional Agribusiness Trade Missions are planned later this year to Vietnam and Singapore. For information on these and other trade missions, visit https://www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions.

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