vilsack

Ag Industry Provides Testimony on NAFTA

Dan Dairy, Industry News Release, Trade

Dairy, poultry, grains, oilseeds and produce industry leaders told House Ag lawmakers this week that NAFTA modernization talks with Canada and Mexico should “do no harm” to their sectors, but only improve trade opportunities. ‘Preserve what’s working…strengthen what can be better…and fix what’s broken’ was the message from former USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, now president and CEO of the US …

north

NAFTA is a Problem for U.S. Specialty Crop Industry

Dan Specialty Crops, Trade

The House Agriculture Committee held a hearing Wednesday to highlight opportunities for agriculture in the upcoming renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Chairman Michael Conaway and members of the committee heard from various stakeholder groups on opportunities to achieve the best deal possible for American agriculture. One of those providing testimony was Executive Vice President of the …

NCBA CEO Testifies on Capitol Hill: “Please Do No Harm!”

Dan Cattle, Industry News Release, Trade

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Kendal Frazier testified on Capitol Hill in support of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and warned Congress against using the treaty’s renegotiation to resurrect failed policies like mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL). “Quite frankly, it is difficult to improve upon duty-free, unlimited access to Canada and Mexico, and we are pleased to see …

off act

NCBA CEO Testifies on NAFTA

Dan Beef, Cattle, Legislative, Trade

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Kendal Frazier testified this week before the U.S. House Agriculture Committee on Capitol Hill in support of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). He discusses his testimony which supported keeping foreign markets open to American beef producers.

nafta

Multiple Rounds of NAFTA Negotiations Expected

Dan Industry News Release, Trade

A top official from Mexico expects between six to nine rounds of negotiations between the United States, Mexico and Canada on the North America Free Trade Agreement. Mexico’s Economy Minister said last week the NAFTA members were looking at avoiding gaps of more than three weeks between negotiating rounds with a view to making quick progress, according to Reuters. The …

fried

Canada Wants Dispute Mechanism in NAFTA Redo

Dan Industry News Release, Trade

Canada says it is critical that the North American Free Trade Agreement includes a dispute resolution mechanism, setting up a potential clash with the United States once renegotiations begin next month. The United States goals for the NAFTA renegotiation released last week include a desire to ditch the Chapter 19 dispute settlement mechanism. That mechanism has hindered the U.S. from …

trade deal

First Round of NAFTA Talks Scheduled

Dan Industry News Release, Trade

As expected, U.S. trade officials confirmed this week that North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiations would begin August 16th, the first day allowed by U.S. law. The office of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced this week that the talks would kick off in Washington, D.C. on August 16th, and the initial rounds of negotiations are scheduled to wrap up …

dairy

U.S. Dairy Increasing Pressure on Canada

Dan Dairy, Industry News Release

The U.S. dairy lobby is putting increasing pressure on Canada as the talks to redo NAFTA draw closer. People close to the situation told Reuters that America’s dairy farmers want concessions that Canada doesn’t seem likely to grant. The deal could be a hindrance to the upcoming NAFTA talks, under which Canada sends a lot of its exports to the …

NMPF, USDEC Dairy Cooperative Leader Outlines NAFTA Renegotiation Priorities at Congressional Hearing

Dan General

The CEO of a major farmer-owned dairy cooperative in Washington state told a congressional panel that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has created jobs and increased sales for his company and the entire U.S. dairy sector and that a renegotiated treaty must maintain market access to Mexico while also fixing trade challenges with Canada. “An agreement that has …

farm bureau

Farm Bureau Responds to USTR’s NAFTA Objectives

Dan Industry News Release, Trade

The following statement may be attributed to Zippy Duvall, president, American Farm Bureau Federation: “The North American Free Trade agreement has helped America’s farmers and ranchers make significant gains in U.S. ag exports to Canada and Mexico, and the administration’s negotiating objectives for the agreement will maintain and improve agricultural trade with our nearest trading partners. We look forward to …