The US agricultural industry faces tough challenges in exporting products abroad. Over the last few decades there has been a strong increase in the technical hurdles that our agricultural community must overcome to maintain markets and to expand opportunities for US commodities. The USDA-Foreign Agricultural Service is responsible for linking US agriculture to the world to enhance export opportunities. Their mission is to expand and to preserve access to foreign markets for US agricultural products by removing trade barriers and enforcing US rights under existing trade agreements. Work is done in collaboration with US regulatory agencies, foreign governments, and international organizations to establish international standards and science-based rules to improve accountability and predictability for agricultural trade. FAS utilizes tools to address Sanitary and Phytosanitary and Technical Barriers to Trade. FAS Embassy Attaches, trade databases, and market development programs are essential instruments for ensuring a level playing field for US agricultural trade.