The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has a new Chief Agricultural Negotiator, with the confirmation of Dr. Julie Callahan to the role. Her appointment is being widely welcomed across the agricultural sector, with farm groups and commodity organizations praising her experience and commitment to expanding opportunities for U.S. agriculture in global markets.
The USTR’s office announced the confirmation in a post on X, highlighting Dr. Callahan’s qualifications and the broad support she received during the confirmation process. The office stated, ”Congratulations Dr. Julie Callahan on your confirmation to serve as Chief Agricultural Negotiator! America is fortunate to have you working for our farmers and ranchers. Over 80 trade associations representing farmers, ranchers, and food manufacturers testified to Dr. Callahan’s ability to promote the interests of U.S. agriculture in international negotiations. American workers and their families stand to benefit from your unwavering commitment to lower trade barriers and open new markets for U.S. agricultural exports.”
As Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Dr. Callahan will play a central role in shaping U.S. agricultural trade policy, advocating for American farmers and ranchers, and working to reduce trade barriers while expanding export opportunities. The position is critical for U.S. agriculture, which relies heavily on access to global markets for commodities such as soybeans, sugar, grains, meat, and specialty crops.
Several major agricultural organizations issued statements congratulating Dr. Callahan and expressing confidence in her leadership. The American Soybean Association emphasized her understanding of export markets and their importance to farm income, saying, “Dr. Callahan brings a deep understanding of how critical export markets are to the strength of U.S. agriculture. Soybean farmers value her extensive experience at USTR and across the federal government, and they know she will be a strong advocate for agriculture.”
The American Sugar Alliance also welcomed her confirmation and highlighted her background in trade and food policy. The organization said, “We congratulate Julie Callahan on her confirmation and look forward to working with her to put American farmers first and strengthen guardrails that protect our growers from unfair trade practices. Callahan’s experience at USTR and the FDA demonstrates a deep understanding of the importance of maintaining strong domestic food production, and she will no doubt draw on that expertise as she takes on this important responsibility.”
With strong backing from across the agricultural industry, Dr. Callahan begins her role at a time when trade policy, market access, and fair competition remain top priorities for U.S. producers. Her confirmation signals a continued focus on advancing American agriculture in international negotiations and strengthening export opportunities that support rural economies.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.