USTR To Review Thailand’s GSP Trade Benefits

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has agreed with a request from the National Pork Producers Council to review Thailand’s eligibility for the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program because of that country’s failure to provide access to its market for U.S. products, including pork. NPPC, which last month filed a GSP review petition with USTR, is …

Cargill Still Concerned About Likelihood of Trade War

Cargill remains concerned that the U.S. and China trade discussions will escalate into a trade war. In Comments sent to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Cargill officials say the tariffs proposal by the U.S. targeting China will “not effectively advance the goal of addressing distortive trade practices,” according to Reuters. Cargill sent a five-page letter to Lighthizer as the USTR …

Equipment Groups Release Policy Survey Results

In April, the Equipment Dealers Association and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers surveyed their members about the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and steel and aluminum tariffs on their businesses. Dealers and manufacturers were in consensus that the two most beneficial provisions of the tax legislation were the lower corporate tax rate and the favorable expensing provisions …

Agri View: Farmers Concerns and TPP Losses

Everett Griner talks about how U.S. loses will play out without TPP in today’s Agri View. Everett tells us about some of the concerns farmers in the United States are having. Farmers Concerns and TPP Losses Most consumers in this country have little knowledge of TPP, and, what dropping the United States out of that trade group will do to …

Agriculture Secretary Perdue on NAFTA

We told you earlier this week that the Trump Administration is working against the clock to get the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations done in time for a vote during this year’s December session of Congress. If the Administration wants a vote this year, the deadline is this Thursday, May 17. Southeast AgNet recently asked Secretary of Agriculture …

Proposed Tariff Hearings Underway in Washington

Hearings are underway in Washington, D.C. on a proposed list of Chinese products the U.S. has targeted with 25 percent tariff. The three-day event features testimony from more than 100 witnesses. One of those testifying is farmer Michelle Erickson-Jones, a member of Farmers for Free Trade, who says the U.S. farm community is already feeling the effects of the threatened …

Canada, China, Talking Trade

Canada and China are seeking a stronger trade relationship. The two countries have agreed to increase collaboration on agriculture, including expanding market access. The move is key to a trade target by Canada to grow global agriculture and food exports to $75 billion by 2025, according to Canadian Minister of Agriculture Lawrence MacAulay. Officials from Canada, including MacAulay, are in …

NAFTA Clock Is Ticking

The Trump Administration is working against the clock to get the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations done in time for a vote during this year’s December session of Congress. If the Administration wants a vote this year, the deadline is this Thursday, May 17. Politico says Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s deadline makes it uncertain whether or …