Agricultural imports-including imports of fruit, vegetables, seafood, and other commodities that directly compete with U.S. products-have more than doubled over the last decade, according to data from USDA. The department’s TAA for Farmers program provides technical and financial assistance to producers of commodities certified by USDA as eligible for assistance. The Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act of 2009 reauthorized and amended the program and directed GAO to prepare and submit a report on the operation and effectiveness of the amendments. In particular, GAO examined (1) the commodities and producers USDA approved for assistance and the type and amount of assistance it provided, and (2) the approach USDA is taking to evaluate the program’s effectiveness and limitations, if any, in this approach. GAO analyzed USDA data and documents; interviewed USDA officials, their academic partners, producer groups, and commodity experts; and conducted fieldwork in two states to meet with producer groups for certified commodities.
