Engaging in APEC to Reduce Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade | USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 17 0001

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 17 0001

The grant opportunity titled "Engaging in APEC to Reduce Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade" is a discretionary USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) cooperative agreement aimed at strengthening how economies in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region design and apply food safety regulations so they protect public health without unnecessarily blocking trade. It sits within USDA FAS's Office of Agreements and Scientific Affairs (OASA), specifically the International Regulations and Standards Division (IRSD), whose broader mission is to promote science-based sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules, push for alignment with international standards, and monitor and support compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) SPS Agreement obligations. In practical terms, the project is meant to reduce non-tariff barriers that arise when SPS measures, while often motivated by legitimate food safety concerns, end up being more restrictive than necessary due to limited regulatory capacity, weak risk assessment systems, or a lack of familiarity with international best practices.

The underlying problem this grant targets is that many APEC economies are modernizing food safety systems at the same time their markets are becoming more important to global agricultural exporters, including the United States. As governments update laws and import controls, some economies introduce requirements that function as trade barriers, not because they are intentionally protectionist, but because the technical capacity to design SPS measures consistent with WTO rules is uneven across the region. The opportunity highlights two recurring flashpoints for agricultural trade: export certificates and pesticide maximum residue limits (MRLs). On export certificates, the concern is that some importing economies rely too heavily on official certificates or impose certificate conditions that are not grounded in science or risk, effectively using certification as a blunt instrument that slows or blocks shipments. The grant frames this as a capacity and policy-dialogue issue: economies may need support to understand and implement a broader toolbox of import assurance approaches, many of which can protect consumers while being less trade restrictive than demanding extensive official certification for routine trade.

On pesticide MRLs, the opportunity points to a common pattern in developing regulatory systems: economies that cannot develop or regularly update their own MRLs may leave residues unregulated, set extremely low limits, or default to an MRL of zero. Zero or overly restrictive MRLs can halt imports even when a product is safe and widely accepted elsewhere, creating significant friction for exporters. The grant therefore emphasizes building technical capacity and encouraging the adoption of Codex Alimentarius standards, including Codex MRLs, because Codex benchmarks are widely recognized internationally and are generally more consistent with the WTO SPS Agreement's expectation that measures be science-based and not more trade restrictive than necessary. The overall thrust is not deregulation, but better regulation: helping economies make defensible, risk-based decisions that protect health while keeping markets open.

Administratively, the award is issued by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service under CFDA 10.960 (Agriculture, Food and Nutrition) and uses a cooperative agreement instrument, signaling that USDA expects to remain actively involved during implementation rather than simply issuing a pass-through grant. The opportunity is authorized under 7 USC 3291, which supports international agricultural research, extension, teaching, and related capacity-building activities, including technical assistance, training, and collaboration with transitional and advanced countries. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations: nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The listed award ceiling is $225,000, and the original closing date shown is September 1, 2017, indicating this is a historical notice rather than a currently open competition.

A notable procedural detail is that USDA reported modifications to the synopsis and full text instructions, but the updated full text was not displaying properly in Grants.gov at the time. Applicants were directed to request the corrected instructions directly from agency contacts (Anna Gore at anna.gore@fas.usda.gov or Eric Bozoian at eric.bozoian@fas.usda.gov). In other words, a key part of applying was ensuring the applicant had the most current version of the full announcement, because the Grants.gov attachment was not reflecting the latest changes.

• The Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture, food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Engaging in APEC to Reduce Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.960.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-08-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-09-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $225,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 17 0001

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