The World Trade Organization (WTO) has been a very successful system for the governance of international trade, progressively lowering tariffs and stimulating trade growth. Despite the fact that the United States played a significant role in establishing the WTO, as well as historically driving multiple rounds of trade negotiations, its current trade policy will notably change the global agricultural trading system. Unilateral implementation of tariffs by the United States has resulted in extensive international retaliation by competitors.

Over the last decade, the agricultural economy has changed dramatically, with consecutive year-on-year declines in farm income despite strong crop and livestock yields.

The United States Congress passed Public Law 114-216 three years ago requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish a national disclosure standard for genetically engineered (GE) foods.