; and (B) assistance for other costs that are necessary or appropriate to carry out the foreign market development cooperator program, including contingent liabilities that are not otherwise funded. (4) Program considerations In providing assistance under this subsection, the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall— (A) give equal consideration to— (i) proposals submitted by eligible trade organizations that were participating organizations in the foreign market development cooperator program in prior fiscal years; and (ii) proposals submitted by eligible trade organizations that have not previously participated in the foreign market development cooperator program; and (B) give equal consideration to— (i) proposals submitted for activities in emerging markets; and (ii) proposals submitted for activities in markets other than emerging markets. (d) Technical assistance for specialty crops component (1) In general As one of the components of the International Market Development Program, the Secretary shall carry out an export assistance program to address existing or potential barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of United States specialty crops. (2) Purpose The export assistance program required by this subsection shall provide direct assistance through public and private sector projects and technical assistance to remove, resolve, or mitigate existing or potential sanitary and phytosanitary and technical barriers to trade. (3) Priority The export assistance program required by this subsection shall address time sensitive and strategic market access projects based on— (A) trade effect on market retention, market access, and market expansion