Agriculture and other contentious issues proposed by the U.S. during round four of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) talks have stalled the renegotiation effort. The U.S., Canada, and Mexico have now agreed to extend the talks into 2018, failing to meet the Trump Administration’s goal to conclude the talks by the end of this year. The move comes …
NMPF Comments on Round 4 of NAFTA Negotiations
“We are pleased that U.S. trade negotiators have told Canada that its problematic dairy policies must be addressed in the negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). “The proposal advanced by the U.S. Trade Representative is the right approach to move dairy trade between our two countries closer to the free trade relationship that exists for most other …
Perdue Talks About Successful European Trip
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue toured Europe, speaking with officials from several different countries about a variety of issues, including trade. After stops in the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain, Perdue said the trip has been very productive. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would be withdrawing the interim final rule under the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards …
Initial Progress Made on U.S.-Japan Trade Issues
The U.S. and Japan in a joint statement said the two nations have made “initial progress” on trade issues. The statement comes as Vice President Mike Pence talked with Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister earlier this week. The Joint statement says some “initial progress” on bilateral trade issues such as lifting import restrictions on Japanese persimmons and Idaho potatoes, according to …
NAFTA Commodity Groups Unite to Urge Negotiation Success
U.S. commodity export groups, along with counterparts from Canada and Mexico, are reiterating their support for free trade. The U.S. Grains Council, along with the U.S. Soybean Export Council, National Sorghum Producers, National Corn Growers, and others, met with counterparts from Canada and Mexico last week. As round four of the North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations conclude, the groups …
Canada “Flatly Rejects” U.S. Dairy Proposal
Wrapping up the fourth round of talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the U.S. proposed a dismantling of Canada’s dairy supply management system. Bloomberg reports Canada “flatly rejects” the proposal by the United States. The proposal would effectively kill Canada’s supply management system by fully eliminating tariffs on supply-managed products over ten years. President Donald Trump earlier …
Axios: Capitol Hill Asking “When” will NAFTA Withdraw Notice Come
Canada and Mexico have both said they are not walking away from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) following hard-hitting proposals by the United States. However, online source Axios points out that folks on Capitol Hill are starting to ask “when” not “if” President Trump will issue a notice to withdraw from NAFTA. The U.S. hardball approach on dairy …
NAFTA Talks Turn to Agriculture, Dairy
The U.S. wants to reverse Canada’s dairy supply management system as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation. U.S. negotiators centered on the agriculture chapter of NAFTA over the weekend and proposed to reverse Canadian dairy pricing program that has undercut certain U.S. dairy exports to Canada. The text, which demands that Canada eliminates an industry pricing …
Business Leaders Push to Keep KORUS Intact
Business leaders from the U.S. and Korea are pressing South Korea and the United States to “eliminate the uncertainty” around the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, known as KORUS. The U.S.-Korea Business Council, along with the Korea-U.S. Business Council, issued a joint statement, calling KORUS “a platform to expand bilateral trade.” President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw the U.S. from …
U.S., Japan, Planning Another Trade Meeting
Vice President Mike Pence is meeting with Japan Monday in Washington. D.C. to talk trade. Politico reports that Pence and Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister will meet for the second round of the U.S.-Japan economic dialogue launched by the Trump administration in the wake of Trump’s decision to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Japan is expected to propose to change …