The European Union is seeking to expand its trade relationship with Mexico. Under the current trade agreement between the EU and Mexico, the EU’s most active trading sectors with Mexico are machinery and car parts. The current agreement was implemented in 2000. Politico reports that a renewed deal would also be a response to Trump’s aggressive trade stance against Mexico. …
U.S. Ag Machinery Industry Says NAFTA Could Use Changes
New surveys by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers and the Equipment Dealers Association show modest satisfaction with the current North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but a suggestion that there is room for improvement. Survey results revealed that 36 percent of equipment dealers and 59 percent of manufacturers are largely satisfied with the existing terms of NAFTA, but that some …
Canada, U.S., Ag Leaders Talk Tade
The top agriculture leaders from the United States and Canada met earlier this week, discussing trade and the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. While no negotiations took place during the meeting, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the pair did lay out concerns on agricultural trade issues, including dairy. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said the …
Sonny Perdue Talks Dairy Issues with Canadian Counterpart
NAFTA renegotiations and dairy issues were some of the topics Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue discussed with Canadian leaders this week as part of his first international trip as Secretary. According to a story from Gary Crawford, they had what Perdue describes as “frank” discussions about dairy issues.
Legislation Would End Cuba Trade Embargo
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators has come together to co-sponsor legislation that would end the Cuban trade embargo. The bill is called the “Freedom to Export to Cuba Act” and would bring an end to all legal barriers for the U.S. to conduct business with Cuba. Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar says U.S. policy toward Cuba has been defined by …
Rollback of Cuba Policies Will Harm U.S. Agriculture
A recent study says any rollback of Obama-era moves to normalize relations with Cuba will harm U.S. Agriculture. The study by Engage Cuba, a coalition of private companies seeking an end to the Cuba embargo, says any new regulations on exporting agricultural commodities to Cuba could cost $1.5 billion and affect 2,200 U.S. jobs. That’s on top of the estimated …
Midwest Railroad Watching NAFTA Talks Closely
A railroad company that exports U.S. agricultural products to Mexico is closely watching the North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiation effort. Kansas City Southern Railway Company CEO Pat Ottensmeyer told KMBC-TV in Kansas City, Missouri: “We once branded ourselves the NAFTA railroad.” Since NAFTA took effect, the railway has grown to send 40 percent of its business to Mexico. The …
Canada: NAFTA Talks to Start in August
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister told the nation’s lawmakers this week negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement would start in August, the earliest possible by U.S. law. Chrystia Freeland briefed Canadian lawmakers Monday on the negotiation process. She says a time crunch is looming, with the U.S. and Mexico in the biggest hurry to start talks. The Canadian Press …
China Issues “Wish List” for U.S. Trade
China has issued a list of concessions that it says can help deliver a “win-win” trade relationship with America. The list is part of an 117-page document released Thursday by the Ministry of Commerce. China would like to improve infrastructure cooperation with the U.S. and accept greater imports of goods ranging from soybeans to aircraft. The report acknowledges the Trump …
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Addresses USMEF
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) held their Spring Conference in Arlington, Virginia last week. One of the speakers was Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. We’ve heard that President Trump’s proposed budget includes cuts to the USDA Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development Program (FMD). Sen. Roberts talked about …