Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam sent a letter Thursday to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that backed President Donald Trump’s push for a “more equitable North American Free Trade Agreement” with Canada and Mexico. “As you are aware, producers of perishable and seasonal agricultural products in Florida and other regions have been decimated by unfair trading practices resulting in a …
Putnam Urges NAFTA Changes to Better Protect Florida Agriculture
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam sent a letter to Ambassador Robert Lighthizer underscoring the importance of ensuring that Florida agriculture is better protected from unfair and illegal trade practices as NAFTA negotiations continue. “Current remedies available to address unfair trade practices are simply insufficient to protect Florida’s specialty crop producers. It is critical that the NAFTA negotiations result …
Ag Trade Group: China Tariffs a Tax on Farmers
A U.S. agricultural trade group says the tariffs announced by China are a tax on U.S. agriculture. Farmers for Free Trade, a coalition formed to promote agricultural trade, says the tax stems from protectionist trade policies by the Trump administration. Max Baucus, the organization’s Co-Chair, says the new tariffs “are a drag” on farmers struggling to make ends meet with …
China Enacts Tariffs Targeting U.S. Pork
China is moving forward with retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products, including the 25 percent tariff on U.S. pork. China’s Ministry of Finance announced Sunday it will suspend duty reductions on select imported goods from the United States. In the announcement, China says the Trump administration’s steel and aluminum imports to the U.S. violate World Trade Organization rules, and “did not …
NAFTA Talks Facing Possible Turning Point
NAFTA talks are facing a possible turning point this month that will yield either a breakthrough or even the suspension of talks. Mexico’s Congress wraps up its regular session on April 30th. The country is widely expected to elect a new anti-NAFTA president on July 1st, and the U.S. holds key midterm congressional elections in November. Against that backdrop, the …
Farmers for Free Trade Continues Ad Campaign Aimed at President Trump
Farmers for Free Trade released another television ad on Thursday as part of the effort to highlight the damaging impact retaliation from a series of new tariffs will have on critical ag exports. The new spot features Indiana corn and soybean grower Brent Bible, whose soy operation relies on exports to China, as do many more across the country. “I’m …
Ag Groups Get a Face-to-Face with USTR Negotiator
The U.S. Trade Representative’s new chief agricultural negotiator opened his doors on Friday to major agriculture industry groups. Greg Doud invited them in for meetings to discuss priorities and concerns about the North American Free Trade Talks and other trade negotiations. Farm groups representing commodity producers and agricultural processing associations likely expressed a lot of fears that tariffs against China …
Lighthizer Hopeful of New NAFTA Deal
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told CNBC television Wednesday he is “hopeful” there will be compromise and a deal reached on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). His comments follow those from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who earlier this week said a “win-win-win deal is not only possible but likely.” Lighthizer said Wednesday he is optimistic the three …
Protecting Ag from Trade Retaliation
Many in the agricultural sector are worried about possible retaliation against the U.S. for announced tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. But according to a story from Rod Bain, the President’s Special Assistant for Agriculture says the White House will do everything in its power to protect the farm sector from the impacts of potential retaliatory trade actions. Protecting Ag …
U.S. Producers Worried about Retaliatory Tariffs from China
China is threatening to impose stiff retaliatory tariffs on U.S. pork and soybeans, and that has U.S. producers worried. China’s wasted no time in coming up with a list of U.S. targets for retaliation for billions in U.S. tariffs on Chinese metals and IP-related goods. Politically-sensitive U.S. pork and soybeans, as feared, are on China’s retaliation list. U.S. Producers Worried …