The United States and the United Kingdom wrapped up the fourth round of trade talks this month, with another round planned for mid-October. The UK Department of International Trade says, “Significant progress has been achieved since launching negotiations in May 2020, and most chapter areas are now in the advanced stages of talks.” Chief Ag Negotiator with the U.S. Trade …
WTO Rules Against U.S. Sanctions on China
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer was unhappy with a World Trade Organization (WTO) report that says U.S. actions to combat China’s widespread theft of American technology were inconsistent with WTO rules. Lighthizer says the WTO panel report confirms what the Trump Administration has been saying all along. “The WTO is completely inadequate to stop China’s harmful technology practices,” Lighthizer says. …
NMPF’s Castaneda: U.S. Needs to be Careful in Mexican Trade Issues
Trade issues with Mexico by seasonal agricultural producers here in the Southeast on various products have some wondering about the ripple effect this may have on Mexican trade across agriculture. National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Senior Vice President for Policy Strategy and International Trade, Jaime Castaneda, looked at the issue and how the dairy industry continues to monitor it, during …
WTO Says Ag Trade Faring ‘Better’ During COVID-19; Producers Feeling Pressure
A new report from the World Trade Organization (WTO) says agricultural trade has performed “better” than other economic sectors during COVID-19. However, Western Producer says the report notes that farmers and ranchers are still feeling pressure from lower food prices. “Overall merchandise trade fell sharply in the first half of this year, but agricultural and food exports increased by 2.5% …
China, Lighthizer Talk Trade Agreement
China reaffirmed this week its commitments included in the Phase 1 trade deal. The pledge comes out of a conversation between U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer and Chinese trade officials, the first formal dialogue since early May, according to Reuters. In a statement following the call, Lighthizer says, “Both sides see progress and are committed to taking the steps …
Lighthizer Promises Help for Southeast Tomato Growers
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer promises tomato growers in the southeast United States that he will address their concerns about imported Mexican tomatoes. Trade Vistas Dot Com says American producers are upset about the surging numbers of Mexican tomato imports under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade. The United States is the second-largest producer of tomatoes in the world, but with …
U.S. China Postpone Trade Deal Review
The U.S. and China have postponed a review of the Phase One trade deal as China continues to buy large amounts of U.S. farm commodities. The two sides were set to meet over the weekend, but the delay allows China more time to buy U.S. crops. However, the postponement arose over scheduling conflicts, according to Reuters. Saturday marked the six-month …
Commissioner Fried Encourages Farmers to Comment, Testify on Unfair Trade Hearings
Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried are encouraging producers to submit comments in the coming week to the upcoming U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) field hearings on unfair produce trade with Mexico. The USTR recently announced that field hearings scheduled in April will now take place on August 13 and …
USDA, USTR to Hold Hearings with Seasonal Growers Next Month
The Trump administration will hold two hearings next month with seasonal produce growers to discuss foreign trade policies that may be harming farmers. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office, along with the Department of Agriculture, recently announced the hearings planned for August 13 and August 20. At the hearings, officials from the federal agencies will hear from farmers on how the …
U.K. Still Resisting Agriculture Inclusion in U.S. Trade Talks
United Kingdom officials in London are launching an advisory group that will focus on protecting the interests of British farmers during the upcoming high-stakes trade negotiations with the United States. Liz Truss, International Trade Secretary for the United Kingdom, says, “Trade pacts with other nations must be fair and reciprocal to our farmers, and must not compromise on our high …