President Donald Trump told Canada he wants a fair North American Free Trade Agreement. Speaking over the phone earlier this week to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trump said he supported an agreement that is “fair to all three countries,” adding that the current deal leaves the U.S. with a trade deficit, according to Politico. The conversation came shortly after …
AEM’s Slater: Trump Tariffs Won’t Help U.S. Manufacturers ‘Win’ Again
AEM worked to discourage President Trump from imposing heavy tariffs on steel and aluminum imports after the president said he intended to do just that this week. AEM is assessing the impact of Trump’s announcement last week that he would impose 25 percent import tariffs on steel and 10 percent import tariffs on aluminum. “President Trump shouldn’t undercut his own …
No Tariff Exceptions for Canada/Mexico
Bloomberg is reporting that there will be no exceptions for Canada and Mexico when it comes to potential tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. The only way they get exempted from the tariffs will be if they sign a new North American Free Trade Agreement that’s better for America. “Canada must treat American farmers better and Mexico must stop drugs …
NAFTA Round Seven Wrapped Up Monday and Facing More Questions
The seventh round of talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) wrapped up Monday in Mexico City. The three countries have taken some incremental steps toward agreements on some of the lower-level issues. However, trade negotiators and almost anyone else interested in the NAFTA negotiations acknowledged that the looming threat of U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum …
Agri View: What Is Going on with NAFTA?
Everett Griner talks about what is going on with NAFTA, and why, in today’s Agri View. What is Going on with NAFTA You know it is hard to understand what is going on with NAFTA. Mexican farmers, Canadian farmers and American farmers, want to keep it strong and stable. Our secretary of agriculture himself said that the loss of NAFTA …
WTO Worried About Trade Wars Resulting from Trump Tariffs
The head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is concerned about President Donald Trump’s plans to impose a tariff on both steel and aluminum imports into America. Director General Roberto Azevedo says a trade war is in no one’s best interests. “The WTO is concerned about the U.S. plans for tariffs on steel and aluminum,” he says, “and the potential …
European Union Will Hit Back Against U.S. Tariffs
The President of the European Commission says he’ll “bring forward in the next few days a proposal for WTO-compatible countermeasures against the U.S.” Politico says the move is intended to hit back against the steel and aluminum tariffs announced on Thursday by President Trump. The Commission says the 25 percent tariff on steel and 10 percent on aluminum will directly …
Senate Confirms Key USTR Nominees
The National Cotton Council is pleased with the Senate’s confirmation of key officials in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The Senate confirmed Gregg Doud as USTR Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Dennis Shea as Deputy USTR (Geneva) and C. J. Mahoney as Deputy USTR (Investment, Services, Labor, Environment, Africa, China, and the Western Hemisphere). Earlier this year, the NCC …
USTR Wants Renewal of Trade-Promotion Authority
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) says it plans to ask for a three-year extension of trade-promotion authority in order to negotiate new trade deals. Robert Lighthizer says those discussions could be with Japan, Vietnam, and other members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership if they’re interested. Politico quotes Lighthizer as saying, “The Trump administration will aggressively negotiate trade deals …
Ag Groups Concerned About Trade Retaliation
U.S. Wheat Associates and the National Association of Wheat Growers were both very disappointed in the Trump Administration’s decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. A statement says they have repeatedly warned of the risks of retaliation and the precedent set by such a policy would have potentially serious consequences for agriculture. The groups say it’s disappointing that …