According to a February 8th release, Secretary of the USDA, Tom Vilsack announced sales of U.S. agricultural products totaling $176.6 billion in 2021.  This figure was 18.2 percent higher than in 2020.  The top four importers represented 55.4 percent or $97.8 billion in exported agriculture products.  These nations comprised China at $33.0 billion, Mexico at $25.5 billion, Canada at $25.1 billion and Japan at $14.2 billion.  Although China increased imports from the U.S. in 2021 by 24.9 percent, the Nation has not complied with its obligations in terms of the 2020 Phase-1 trade agreement.  In 2019 China purchased $13.9 billion in agricultural products but increased sharply in the following year to $26.4 billion following the January 2020 agreement.

In reviewing regions importing U.S. agricultural products, East Asia accounted for 35 percent, North America comprising Canada and Mexico, 29 percent, South America 4.6 percent, the Middle East 3.2 percent, the Caribbean 2.5 percent, Sub-Saharan Africa 1.3 percent and Oceania 1.2 percent.