The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) on September 10 outlined export promotion and financing opportunities to expand U.S. agricultural sales to Venezuela as the country recovers from recent earthquakes.
“Having visited Venezuela just days after its devastating earthquakes, I have seen tenacity in the face of hardship and look forward to positioning U.S. agriculture to help meet critical needs and build lasting trade relationships,” said Luke J. Lindberg, under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs.
FAS said it would work with approved U.S. agricultural cooperators to use Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program funds for exploratory market research, trade seminars and consumer promotion in Venezuela. The agency is also considering Venezuela as a destination for a regional agribusiness trade mission to connect U.S. exporters with buyers.
Financing support includes promoting sales through the GSM-102 Export Credit Guarantee Program, which provides payment guarantees to facilitate export financing. FAS also announced the lifting of restrictions under enhancements to the Food and Agriculture Resilience Mission Initiative, allowing any approved foreign bank to back Venezuelan transactions. The agency said the change would expand available credit for Venezuelan buyers.
The announcement comes amid substantial humanitarian needs. In a July 23 statement, the UN World Food Programme said it aimed to assist 500,000 people during the first three months of its earthquake response and appealed for $80 million to sustain and expand operations.
WFP’s current country assessment identifies affordability as a principal driver of food insecurity: many families cannot afford basic groceries even where food remains available in markets, as rising prices erode purchasing power.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, “USDA Announces Expanded Suite of Trade, Development and Food Security Opportunities for Venezuela,” September 10, 2026, reproduced by Public Technologies.
UN World Food Programme, “WFP Reaches More Than 100,000 People with Assistance Since Venezuela Earthquakes,” July 23, 2026.
UN World Food Programme, “Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” country overview, accessed September 11, 2026.
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