The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) talks may be foremost on farmers’ minds these days, but two deputy U.S. Trade Representative nominees told Senate Finance members, China is the bigger trade challenge. President Trump tapped Dennis Shea to be a deputy U.S. Trade Representative to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, and Shea, who’s headed the China-U.S. Economic and …
Trump See’s Ag Benefits of NAFTA, Still Threatening Withdraw
President Donald Trump said again this week he “may” terminate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), saying such a move would yield the “best deal” in renegotiations. The president says many people “are going to be unhappy,” if he terminates the agreement, but counters that they “don’t realize how good it would be” if he did. But, just last …
Ag Coalition Formed to Support NAFTA
A new coalition of agriculture groups is focusing on the importance of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). More than 30 organizations across the agriculture sector announced the formation of Americans for Farmers & Families, noting that food and agriculture supports 43 million U.S. jobs and depends on trade with Canada and Mexico. The group was formed to “ensure” …
Agri View: Withdrawing from NAFTA
Everett Griner talks about withdrawing from NAFTA, North American Free Trade Agreement, could be disastrous for agriculture in today’s Agri View. Agri View: Withdrawing from NAFTA There is a lot about NAFTA that most Americans don’t understand. In fact, I would say there is very little they do understand. Here are just a few things that economist say would most …
NAFTA ‘Nervousness’ Dominates Senate Confirmation Hearing
NAFTA ‘nervousness’ dominated a Senate confirmation hearing for two Trump Deputy U.S. Trade Representative nominees, as concerns about a possible North American Free Trade Agreement pull-out continued to surface. Senate Ag Chair Pat Roberts told fellow Kansan C.J. Mahoney, tapped by the president to be a Deputy U.S. Trade Representative with a portfolio including NAFTA talks, that it’s the wrong …
Canada Official: U.S. Direction on NAFTA Like Following a Pinball
An agriculture official from Canada says trying to determine the U.S. direction for the North American Free Trade Agreement is like “following a pinball.” Ron Bonnett, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture president, was attending when President Donald Trump spoke at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention last week. Bonnett told an Ontario, Canada-based newspaper that he is still optimistic that …
U.S. Top Beef Exporter to South Korea
The United States has reclaimed the title of top beef exporter to South Korea in 2017. The change comes 14 years after a U.S. outbreak of mad cow disease that led to a ban of U.S. beef in South Korea, handing the top spot of the market to Australia, according to Reuters. U.S. beef shipments jumped 13.7 percent last year …
Speaker Ryan: Canada the Real Problem with NAFTA
U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin says the biggest problem with the North American Free Trade Agreement “comes from the North,” referring to Canada. Ryan points to Canadian dairy producers dumping low-cost products on the market to compete with Wisconsin farms, as the real issue with NAFTA. Late last week, the Republican said NAFTA needs updated, but said the …
Senator Ernst Suggests Trump is Softening on NAFTA Threats
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa told the Iowa Corn Growers Association this week that President Donald Trump appears to be reassessing his position on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Ernst told farmers Monday that “I think he has doubts,” when it comes to withdrawing from NAFTA. Iowa’s Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Ernst expects a follow up NAFTA …
National Potato Council: Trade A Concern
During the Potato Expo last week, National Potato Council President Cully Easterday of Washington State said the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation provides concern to the industry. Trade Regarding NAFTA, Easterday says the three member nations have to work together, and he remains optimistic. Agreement Canada and Mexico were two of the top three export markets for U.S. …