Sonny Perdue made his first appearance before the House Agriculture Committee this week as Secretary of Agriculture. He says the current U.S. agricultural economy is in “ dire straits ” but that could be helped by a stronger trade presence abroad. Perdue says he sees challenges ahead as President Trump’s initial budget cuts the USDA allocation by 21 percent. “We’ve …
Possible Key Points in the NAFTA Renegotiations
In his campaign for the White House, Donald Trump stressed the dangers of consistently running a trade deficit. A USA Today article says the administration will likely focus on ways to cut into the trade deficit when renegotiations formally begin on the North American Free Trade Agreement. One key point that Trump wants to revise is the “Rules of Origin.” …
White House Sends NAFTA Redo Notification Letter to Congress
Farm Journals Ag Web Dot Com reports that the Trump administration has officially laid out its strategies to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico in a letter delivered to Congress. The administration’s main goal is to update the Clinton-era trade deal. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer recently wrapped up two days of meetings with …
Wheat Industry Looks for New NAFTA Opportunities, But Priority Remains Do No Harm
U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) urge caution as the Trump Administration officially submitted to Congress its notice of intent to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The U.S. wheat industry welcomes the opportunity for improving the framework for cross border wheat trade between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but would …
Dairy Industry Welcomes Swift Action by USTR Lighthizer to Launch NAFTA Modernization Efforts
The U.S. dairy industry commended Robert Lighthizer, the newly confirmed U.S. Trade Representative, for taking swift action under the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act (TPA) to begin the process for modernizing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In a notification letter sent today to Congress, Ambassador Lighthizer outlined some of the areas of the agreement that are …
NCBA Joins Canadian, Mexican Partners in Presidential Letter
“Don’t Jeopardize Our Success Under NAFTA” The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association today joined its cattle-industry partners in Canada and Mexico in sending a joint letter to the leaders of those two nations and to President Trump, urging the three leaders to not “jeopardize the success we have all enjoyed as partners of the North American Free Trade Agreement.” The letter to …
American Farm Bureau Looks Forward to NAFTA Renegotiation
The following may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “With the delivery of the required formal notice to Congress, the Trump administration has officially taken the first step toward re-negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The American Farm Bureau looks forward to working with the administration, Congress, other agricultural groups, and officials in Canada …
NAFTA Modernization Must Not Disrupt Pork Exports
Following notification by the Trump administration to Congress that it intends to modernize the trade agreement among the United States, Canada and Mexico, the National Pork Producers Council urged the president to make sure that tariffs remain at zero for pork traded in North America. The White House officially notified the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees, which …
Perdue Discusses Citrus, Organics and NAFTA
New Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue testified before the House Agriculture Committee Wednesday, and was asked various questions from those who serve on that committee. One of those was Darren Michael Soto from Orlando, Florida, the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 9th district. Congressman Soto asked Perdue about citrus greening. Congressman Soto also asked Perdue about organics and NAFTA. Sponsored …
U.S. Still Likely to Benefit from TPP
The United States stands to benefit from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, even though President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the trade agreement. New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay told Radio New Zealand the U.S., and other non-TPP countries, will benefit from the changes to the sharing of pharmaceutical information. However, no added benefits extend to agriculture, which TPP was thought …