House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway echoed comments made last week by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, saying the negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement are not moving fast enough. Conaway stated: “Perdue hit the nail on the head when he said we need to stop circling the ring in NAFTA negotiations and begin laying out concrete agriculture proposals.” He …
U.S. and EU Producers Talk Beef Trade at Sommet de l’Élevage
Now that U.S. producers have established their presence at the Sommet de l’Élevage, they are now talking potential beef trade with the European Union. The Sommet is the EU’s largest livestock show in which exhibitors and attendees are encouraged to make business connections. Renee Strickland, who is representing the U.S. Livestock Exporters Association, has said that one of her goals …
American Dairy Industry Wants True Free-Trade with Canada
The fourth round of negotiations to redo the North American Free Trade Agreement take place next week in Washington. Jim Mulhern, CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, says negotiators are planning to put forth proposals on dairy policy and other market access issues U.S. farmers have getting their product into Canada. Milk Business Dot Com says the Milk Producers …
Ag to Take Center Stage in Round Four of NAFTA Talks
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue talked on Wednesday about the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations, saying he’s “somewhat disappointed” with the pace of the talks. Politico’s Morning Ag Report says Perdue tried to offer hope to U.S. farmers by saying there’s a potential for serious agricultural discussions next week when Round Four gets underway. “Honestly, we’ve been somewhat …
U.S. Ag Groups Want Intervention of GI Review
Farm and food groups want the Trump Administration to address a trade consideration between Mexico and Japan regarding geographical indications. Japan and Mexico are considering giving exclusive status to various European geographical food and drink names. In a letter to President Trump, the groups say that the European Union is currently negotiating with both nations on lists of protected geographical …
Sommet de l’Élevage Starts This Week in France
The 26th annual Sommet de l’Élevage will be taking place in France on October 4–6. The Sommet is the European Union’s largest livestock exposition, featuring competitions, workshops and nearly 1,400 exhibitors from around the globe. Benoit Delaloy, the Sommet’s international events director, says the 2017 show will be the best one yet. Delaloy says approximately 2,000 animals will be participating …
Japan Tariff Reduced U.S. Beef Exports
U.S. frozen beef exports to Japan are down 26 percent after Japan imposed an emergency tariff due to an influx of frozen beef from the United States. The tariff increased from 38.5 percent to 50 percent of the Japanese market, to protect domestic producers. Meat industry publication Meatingplace reports Japan’s frozen beef imports from the U.S. were 4,317 metric tons …
Trump on KORUS to Lighthizer: Call Me a “Crazy Guy”
Online source Axios reports that President Donald Trump told U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to portray him as a “crazy guy” during the upcoming U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement meeting. South Korea will host the meeting with Lighthizer this week to discuss “ways to move forward” with KORUS. The meeting is the second on KORUS, following discussion between Korea and U.S. …
NAFTA Talks to Return to Washington, D.C.
The North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiation effort will return to Washington, D.C. this month for the fourth round of official talks. The negotiations will resume October 11th through the 15th, following a round of talks in Canada last month. Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland said progress was made in the most recent meetings “on a number of …
Canada Better Positioned for NAFTA Talks Than 23 Years Ago
Canada’s Prime Minister during the original North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations says the nation is in a better position now than it was 23 years ago to negotiate the agreement. Former Prime Minister Jean Chretien served in office between 1993 and 2003. He said back in 1994, Canada had a surplus of $50 billion a year in trade. But …