Opinion > Opinions - International The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill US agriculture is back on top and the world is buying by Brooke L. Rollins and Jamieson Greer, opinion contributors - 03/02/26 12:30 PM ET by Brooke L. Rollins and Jamieson Greer, opinion contributors - 03/02/26 12:30 PM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email Soybeans are harvested on the Warpup Farm in Warren, Ind., Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) When we meet with farmers and ranchers across America, they tell us they are worried about whether they will make it through another season. Cotton growers in Texas, sorghum farmers in Kansas, pulse producers in Montana, lamb producers in Utah — we’ve looked them in the eye and heard their earnest pleas for help. For many, the four years under the Biden administration were crushing, and they are still struggling to plant seed, finance their operations, and hold onto their land.   Our farmers and ranchers work harder than anyone in the world and produce record-high yields, so prosperity shouldn’t be out of reach. However, for four years Joe Biden signed no new trade deals, and American agriculture lost significant market access around the world as a result. But the problem didn’t start with Biden — he merely accelerated it. For decades, American farmers and ranchers were forced to bow at the altar of foreign tariff regimes that shut them out of markets and stacked the deck against U.S. agriculture.   Given these conditions, President Trump’s America First trade policy could not have come at a better time. Trump has made it clear that America’s farmers will no longer be treated as second-class suppliers. And we are bringing that message around the world, from Mexico City to London, and beyond. The Trump administration has developed a two-fold approach to addressing the barriers to U.S. food and agricultural exports and making sure that U.S. farmers, ranchers and food producers have a fair and level playing field when they export products around the world. First, the Office of U.S. Trade Representative is negotiating trade deals with willing partners all over the world to advance fair and reciprocal trade. The leverage provided by Trump’s tariffs has been a wake-up call for trading partners. Partners can no longer take for granted their access to the U.S. market. Instead, they need to commit to treating American farmers and ranchers fairly, removing unfair non-tariff barriers, and reducing tariffs on American goods in order to maintain access to our market. We have signed eight agreements on reciprocal trade so far, and are moving ahead to sign more deals in 2026.  The agreements completed to date are leveling the playing field for U.S. food and agricultural exports. The Malaysia and Cambodia deals have opened markets for a range of U.S. agricultural goods, including beef and pork products, poultry and rice. The deal with the U.K. created opportunities for U.S. beef and $700 million in ethanol exports . In just the first month of this year, we racked up additional major victories in Central America. On Jan. 29, El Salvador signed an agreement and also announced it would eliminate unnecessary fumigation and certificate requirements for U.S. grains, recognize American seafood export certificates, and accept U.S. food safety testing for meat. One day later, Guatemala built on its long-standing trade relationship with the U.S. and our shared interest in reinforcing regional supply chains by signing an agreement on reciprocal trade. This historic agreement will establish a long-term market for U.S. ethanol, as Guatemala committed to purchase at least 50 million gallons annually while adopting science and risk-based import standards and regulatory practices that prevent future non-tariff barriers. In February, the Argentina agreement was signed, followed by Bangladesh. Argentina will provide duty-free market access for a wide range of U.S. agricultural products, including beef, dairy products, wine, beer and whiskey, tree nuts, and processed food products. In addition to removing a range of tariff and non-tariff barriers, Bangladesh signed purchase commitments for U.S. soybeans, soy meal and wheat, valued at over $2 billion. Earlier this month, the U.S. signed an agreement with Taiwan which includes preferential market access and the elimination or reduction of tariffs on nearly all U.S. agricultural products. In each of these reciprocal trade agreements, the U.S. secured groundbreaking commitments from its partners to preserve current and future U.S. market access for U.S. cheese and meat producers who rely on the use of common names. These are just a few of the tangible wi