The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) needs to better reflect the dairy-farm incomes lost to tariff retaliation when it calculates its next round of trade mitigation payments, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) said. In a letter sent Tuesday to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, NMPF Chairman and dairy farmer Randy Mooney cited four studies illustrating that milk producers have experienced …
Japan-EU Trade Deal to Increase Market Competition
A trade agreement between the European Union and Japan will increase competition for the United States. Japan’s conclusion of the trade agreement, and efforts to complete the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, will increase competition in Japan for U.S. oilseed and vegetable products, according to the Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service. The two agreements contain tariff concessions for a …
EU Cleared to Start Talks on Increasing U.S. Beef Imports
The European Union (EU) late last week agreed to allow negotiations with the U.S. to increase imports of U.S. beef to the EU. The move could help ease some transatlantic trade tensions, according to Reuters, which reports the EU says “finding a mutually beneficial solution to our longstanding dispute over beef would be a major step forward in improving” trade …
Beagle Brigade Helping Protect Homeland Pork
When Hardy, a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) trained detector dog, sniffed out a roasted pig head in traveler baggage at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International airport early this month, it underscored the efforts USDA and its partners are undertaking to keep African Swine Fever (ASF), a swine disease that could devastate the U.S. pork producers, from entering the country. USDA continues …
U.S. Suspends Pork Imports from Poland
The U.S. suspended pork imports from Poland last week after an outbreak of African Swine Fever in that country. Pork Business Dot Com says the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service also has concerns over Polish export protocols. APHIS discovered that a Polish export facility shipping pork to the U.S. didn’t follow the requirements designed to help prevent the …
Trade News Has Pork Producers Feeling Optimistic
News on the trade front is getting better for U.S. pork producers as the Trump administration announced it wants to negotiate trade agreements with the European Union, Japan and the United Kingdom. The National Pork Producers Council commended the administration for its ambitious trade agenda. The administration recently updated agreements with Canada and Mexico and with South Korea that maintained …
U.S. Agricultural Export Opportunities in South Korea
South Korea is one of the most reliable export markets for U.S. agricultural goods. Its vibrant economy offers easy access to modern retail outlets and is home to a large urban population seeking convenient and healthy food products. Increasing wealth, a growing number of women in the workforce, and a younger generation seeking international foods are also contributing to the …
Export Exchange Next Week
International buyers and end-users of coarse grains from more than 35 countries are scheduled to arrive in Minneapolis next week for Export Exchange 2018. The group will meet with U.S. suppliers and service providers across the value chain. Hosted by the U.S. Grains Council, the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy, Export Exchange is an educational and trade forum for …
Southern Africa: A Promising Region for U.S. Agricultural Exports
Two-way agricultural trade between the United States and Southern Africa has grown significantly in the past decade, reaching a record $1.5 billion in 2017. The region imported $14 billion in agricultural and related products last year and the potential for U.S. export growth is strong, given that many of these are products that the United States produces competitively. USDA’s Foreign …
EU Ready for Talks over U.S. Beef
The European Union (EU) is readying to negotiate with the United States to allow the U.S. to increase beef exports to EU countries. The European Commission sought approval from its 28-member states last month to open negotiations with Washington. The approval process is expected to be completed next week to allow negotiations to begin. Beef is separate from an arrangement …