Many grain traders stay busy keeping an eye on various issues. Mark Oppold explains what some of those are.
USTR, USDA to Assist Southeast Seasonal Produce Industry
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will pursue avenues to assist the Southeast seasonal produce industry in coordination with the United States Department of Agriculture. The announcement comes after members of Congress requested an examination of certain issues in a September 8, 2022, Section 301 petition. The 301 statute requires that USTR make a decision on whether …
USMEF Leadership Celebrates 45th Anniversary of Japan Office
Leaders of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) traveled to Tokyo last week to mark the 45th anniversary of the USMEF Japan office. They met with meat industry leaders, hosted a meat recipe session for Japanese cooking teachers and social media influencers, visited displays of U.S. meat in grocery stores and held an anniversary seminar for 200 of the country’s meat industry representatives. …
Producers Convey Pork Industry Priorities during NPPC Fly-in
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) held its fall Legislative Action Conference last week, as nearly 100 pork producers were in Washington, D.C., meeting with their members of Congress to discuss pork industry priorities. Over the two-day event, producers asked lawmakers to: Press the Biden administration to join the 11-nation Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership and to negotiate an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework …
Florida Ag Commissioner Calls on USTR to Take Action Protecting Florida Farmers from Harm of Decades-long Unfair Foreign Trade Practices
(FDACS/Tallahassee, FL/Sept. 15, 2022) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried wrote to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai in support of the September 8th petition filed by members of Florida’s bipartisan delegation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 requesting the administration conduct an investigation into the flood of imported seasonal and perishable agricultural products from Mexico. Commissioner Fried shared with Ambassador Tai a recent report from the Florida Department of Agriculture …
Lawmakers Ask USTR To Protect Growers from Unfair Practices by Mexico
Lawmakers led by Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently asked U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to investigate the flood of surplus agricultural products from Mexico. The request, filed as a petition under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, says actions by Mexico over the last two decades have burdened and restricted U.S. commerce. The lawmakers say that for …
USDA Releases Updated Trade Projections for 2022-23
The Department of Agriculture released updated trade projections for the remainder of fiscal year 2022 and the first projections for fiscal year 2023. The outlook follows the federal fiscal year, which begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. Agriculture exports for 2023 are projected at $193.5 billion, with imports at $197 billion. The export forecast is $2.5 billion …
Busy Week for USTR Officials
Officials from the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) Office have a busy schedule this week. Assistant United States Trade Representative for Central and South Asian Affairs, Christopher Wilson, and Assistant United States Trade Representative for Agricultural Affairs, Julie Callahan, started the week in New Delhi. The officials held consultations under the framework of the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum. Those talks continue …
U.S., Mexico Dairy Sectors Recommit to Binational Cooperation
Leading dairy representatives from the United States and Mexico gathered at Dairy Farmers of America headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri this week to discuss strengthening cross-border cooperation on dairy issues. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) served as the U.S. hosts and event organizers. NMPF notes that during the fifth annual meeting, the U.S. and Mexican dairy …
U.S., Mexico Dairy Sectors Recommit to Binational Cooperation
Leading dairy representatives from the United States and Mexico gathered at Dairy Farmers of America headquarters in Kansas City this week to discuss strengthening cross-border cooperation on dairy issues. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) served as the U.S. hosts and event organizers. NMPF notes that during the fifth annual meeting, the U.S. and Mexican dairy industries …