Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue this week said no news should be expected this week regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). That’s because Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is traveling to China, according to the Hagstrom report. The comments came as President Donald Trump had extended tariff exemption for another 30 days to Canada and Mexico as a permanent exemption …
USDA Celebrates World Trade Month
The Department of Agriculture is celebrating May as World Trade Month. In doing so, the department is highlighting its success and commitment to expanding trade of agricultural exports. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says he is “proud of the progress we make each day” at USDA regarding trade. The celebration comes as the U.S., however, is amid a trade dispute with …
NAFTA Negotiations Continue Next Week
Negotiations for revamping the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will continue next week as all sides remain hopeful to reach a deal this month. Top-level talks, according to reports, will continue after a U.S. trade delegation returns from China. U.S. officials and negotiators from Canada and Mexico have been eying an early May finish line, and in mid-April, Vice …
New TPP Moving Forward
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) continues to move forward without the United States. Mexico last week ratified the new TPP agreement, now called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Mexico’s Senate voted 73-24 to approve the agreement which will go into effect when six of the 11 nations approve the deal. President Trump earlier this month directed U.S. Trade …
Agri View: NAFTA and Farm Bill Problems
Everett Griner talks about problems with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in today’s Agri View. He also looks at the farm bill and what it may bring for producers. NAFTA and Farm Bill Problems Here is the way one man highly regarded in agriculture put it: “There is no good outcome in messing around with NAFTA. They will …
U.S. Beef Could Expand In E.U. To Help Avoid Trade War
The European Union is preparing to allow more tariff-free U.S. beef into the region as part of an attempt to avoid a trade war. Politico says the move comes at the same time French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are making high-level diplomatic trips to Washington, D.C. Both leaders are trying to dissuade President Donald Trump from …
Trump Says NAFTA Talks Are “Doing Nicely”
President Donald Trump says this week that the North American Free Trade Agreement talks are “moving along nicely.” Bloomberg says trade ministers from Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. are meeting in Washington, D.C., and pushing to finish an agreement by early May. During a meeting with the president of France, Trump said, “NAFTA, as you know, is moving along. I …
Farm State Senators Worry About Trade During Hearing
The Senate Agriculture Committee convened a hearing on Tuesday and expressed a great deal of concern over the trade strategy of President Donald Trump and its effects on the U.S. farm economy. Politico says farm-state senators used the opportunity to direct Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue to impress on the Trump administration just how sensitive commodity markets are to trade actions. …
Soybean Growers Talking Tariffs, Trade on Capitol Hill
American Soybean Association farmer-leaders from across the country are on Capitol Hill this week to talk with lawmakers about the potential impact of Chinese tariffs on U.S. soybeans. ASA President John Heisdorffer says China purchases 61 percent of U.S. soybean exports, as well as 30 percent of the overall U.S. soybean production. “In short, trade with China matters and is …
Sorghum Prices Falls Three Times Lower After China Tariff Announcement
Grain-handling company Scoular tells Bloomberg that sorghum bids in the Gulf of Mexico have all but disappeared in the wake of a Chinese decision to impose a 179 percent tariff on U.S. imports. Bob Ludington oversees the Omaha, Nebraska-based company’s grain and oilseed division, and says there’s been very little trade. While some U.S. grain elevators are still bidding for …