The Coalition for a Prosperous America is urging the U.S. to include Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) for beef and pork in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Negotiations. Coalition member, R-CALF, says in a news release that reinstatement of COOL labeling will help U.S. consumers “to find safer food alternatives and will also help to boost domestic agriculture.” R-CALF points …
Grains Exports on Track to Set New Record
U.S. exports of grain in all forms are on track to set a new record in 2017/2018, with two months of sales left to report, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and analysis by the U.S. Grains Council. During the first ten months of the marketing year, September 2017 to June 2018, the United States exported 98.3 …
Next Round of Tariffs Set
The U.S. says it will begin imposing tariffs of 25 percent on an additional $16 billion in Chinese imports, further escalating the trade war between the two countries. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office says Customs will begin collecting the extra duties on 279 different product lines. The list includes a lot of industrial and machinery products. Agricultural machinery is on …
Farmers for Free Trade Unhappy with Tariff Escalation
Farmers for Free Trade Executive Director Brian Kuehl says he’s unhappy the White House is ratcheting up the trade war. While more tariffs on Chinese goods are set to go into effect in two weeks, he says the President is telling farmers to be patient as prices plummet and their markets are overtaken by foreign competitors. “That’s why with each …
Doud Rips China, India Farm Subsidies
The Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the U.S. is attacking both China and India for blowing past their World Trade Organization spending limits on farm subsidies that distort trade. “We think China has done in excess of $100 billion more in subsidies to its farmers than it was allowed to do,” Gregg Doug said at the American Sugar Alliance’s International Sweetener …
More on Programs to Help Farmers Hurt by Tariffs
Tyron Spearman has more details about USDA’s program designed to help farmers hurt by the recent trade disruptions. More on Programs to Help Farmers Hurt by Tariffs
Soybean Analyst Says China May Have to Buy More U.S. Soybeans
In spite of an ongoing trade war between the world’s two largest economies, China may actually have to start buying U.S. soybeans in the near future. A Reuters report says oil seed analysis organization Oil World, based in Germany, says South American countries can’t supply all the soybeans that China needs. China is the world’s largest soybean buyer and has …
U.S. Poultry Gains New Market Access in Morocco
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that the government of Morocco has agreed to allow commercial imports of U.S. poultry meat and products into Morocco for the first time. “The Trump Administration continues to prioritize the opening of new markets for U.S. agricultural products. This new access to the Moroccan market is …
Chinese Ag Tariff List Grows Longer
China announced on Friday that it’s ready and willing to put tariffs on another $60 billion worth of American imports. If it follows through on the threat, the total tariff bill on American goods will be $130 billion. Agriculture continues to be on the hit list. Politico says an informal translation of the new list includes hops, maple syrup, whey …
Chinese Import Tariffs May Climb Higher
The U.S. government is taking comments on a proposal to increase the tariff on Chinese imports from the current 10 percent rate up to 25 percent. The tariff increase would cover a wide selection of Chinese imports, including fruits, vegetables, garlic, and more. On June 18th, President Trump directed U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to identify another $200 billion worth …