The U.S. Forage Export Council is dedicated to opening and defending international markets, ensuring that regulations are fair, transparent and based on sound science. Unfortunately, barriers to trade occur in many forms, limiting opportunities for U.S. forage exporters who expect only a reasonable chance to sell their products overseas.

Resistance to genetically engineered products limits U.S. forage in some markets, forcing exporters to segregate hay and run expensive tests, ultimately raising costs for all customers. Instead of sound science, some countries offer various excuses to ban GMOs, even while their government agencies engage in their own research programs to develop similar biotech products. In China, despite promises to streamline their biotech approval process to a two-year timeline, the government has withheld approval for Round Up Ready alfalfa for over ten years.

China also limits trade by prohibiting market access to only one product at a time. Each forage variety requires separate pest and disease studies, followed by what amounts to years of review and stalling techniques. The U.S. Forage Export Council Market funded an inspection tour by Chinese officials in 2008; market access for alfalfa was granted in 2009. That same year USFEC funded another inspection tour focused specifically on Timothy hay; market access took over ten years with approval granted only in 2020. 

Protectionism limits trade and props up inefficient industries at the expense of consumers and taxpayers. In Korea, quotas on imported forage drive prices higher by constricting supply; in Japan, the government subsidizes farmers to grow feed instead of food with the stated aim of decreasing feed imports. The Chinese government pays U.S. university professors to visit China and train farmers and processors how to grow and produce competitive products that will ultimately reduce U.S. exports.