The U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) Office has asked a group of industry advisors to provide feedback on potential changes to the U.S. free trade agreement with Korea (KORUS). World Trade Online reports that USTR is seeking the feedback by mid-August, after recently asking its industry trade advisory committees for ideas on the implementation of the agreement and issues “impacting fair …
Cuba, Houston, Sign Port Agreement
The Port Authority of Houston, Texas and its counterpart in Cuba have signed an agreement of “friendship and commercial cooperation.” The agreement between the two launches an opportunity to “continue trade in agricultural products between the U.S. and Cuba,” according to the Houston Port Authority. The PanAm Post reports that the agreement seeks to facilitate and promote trade, generate new …
Ex-Trade Negotiator Says Trump “Misguided” on NAFTA
The Trump Administration’s goal to reduce trade deficits by renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement is not a good one. That’s the opinion of former top Obama-era trade negotiator Darci Vetter. Captial Press Dot Com says Vetter feels that goal may cause unforeseen and unintentional consequences for farm exports. Vetter was the chief U.S. agricultural trade negotiator from 2014 …
Senate Democrats Revive Bill to End Cuba Embargo
Senate Democrats are pushing back against President Trump concerning Cuba, reviving a bill to lift the U.S. embargo. In mid-June, Trump rolled back former President Barack Obama’s historic opening to the island. The group of Senators, led by Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden, introduced the U.S.-Cuba Trade Act of 2017, which would establish normal trade relations with the island nation, in …
Mexico Releases NAFTA Goals
Mexico says it plans to prioritize free access for goods and services in the upcoming North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Negotiations. Mexico this week announced the nation’s goals for the renegotiation effort, set to begin August 16th. Mexico is also seeking greater labor market integration and a strengthening of energy security, according to Reuters. Additionally, Mexico is looking to …
Mexico Names Chief NAFTA Negotiator
Mexico announced that Kenneth Smith Ramos would be the nation’s chief negotiator for the North American Free Trade Agreement talks set to begin later this month. Ramos will be Mexico’s chief technical negotiator for the talks between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, according to Politico. Ramos was previously at the trade and NAFTA office of the Mexican Embassy in Washington, …
South Korea Asks for KORUS Review Delay
South Korea last week requested the Trump administration to postpone any review of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement until a new trade minister is appointed in South Korea. The request comes after U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer requested a review of the agreement on July 12th in a letter to Korea’s former minister of trade. South Korea suggested that both …
Perdue Welcomes Specialty Crop Producers’ Ideas on NAFTA
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue met with the Mexican secretary of agriculture last week, where discussions about various issues for producers in both countries took place. Of course, this is all leading up to talks concerning the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). During a teleconference, Perdue said he knows certain sectors of agriculture, like fruit and vegetable growers across the …
Trucks Carry Majority of NAFTA Freight
Trucks carry more freight between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada under the North American Free Trade Agreement than railcars. The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics last week reported that trucks carried 63.4 percent of NAFTA freight between May 2016 and May 2017. U.S.-NAFTA freight totaled $98.2 billion during that time, with trucks accounting for $32.2 billion of the …
Japan Beef Tariff Increase Highlights Need for Trade Agreement
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says the increased tariff on beef imports to Japan underscores the “urgent need” for a bilateral trade agreement between Japan and the United States. Japan announced it would increase the tariff on frozen beef imports from 38.5 percent to 50 percent until April 2018. NCBA President Craig Uden says the tariffs “unfairly distort the market …