The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) works to improve foreign market access for U.S. Products. The FAS operates programs designed to build new markets and improve the competitive position of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace. The FAS bears the primary responsibility for USDA's overseas activities-market development, international trade agreements and negotiations, and the collection and analysis of statistics and market information. It also administers USDA's export credit guarantee and food aid programs, and helps increase income and food availability in developing nations by agriculture mobilizing expertise for agriculturally led economic growth. The FAS also enhances U.S. agriculture's competitiveness by providing linkages to world resources and international organizations. The FAS supports U.S. agricultural interests through its network of agricultural counselors, attaches and trade officers stationed abroad and its analysts, marketing specialists, negotiators, and related specialists in Washington, DC. All in all, FAS has a global network of agricultural economics, marketing experts, and other specialists that few organizations can equal.