Chinese trade negotiators did an about-face on Friday, canceling a visit to meet U.S. farmers after they wrapped up trade talks in Washington last week. A CNBC article says the Chinese delegation is headed back to China earlier than planned. Nicole Rolf, director of national affairs with the Montana Farm Bureau, says there wasn’t any explanation as to why they …
Former Agriculture Secretaries Announce Support for USMCA
All former U.S. secretaries of agriculture since President Reagan’s administration announced support for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In a letter to Congressional leaders, former Secretaries John Block (Reagan), Mike Espy (Clinton), Dan Glickman (Clinton), Ann Veneman (W. Bush), Mike Johanns (W. Bush), Ed Shafer (W. Bush), and Tom Vilsack (Obama) underscored the importance of passing USMCA saying, “We need …
NCGA Leaders Fly-In to Washington
(NCGA) — NCGA State Executives, representing eleven state associations travelled to Washington, D.C. this week to urge members of Congress to pass the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and continue the education effort on NCGA’s Low Carbon/High Octane proposal. The State Executives also pressed lawmakers to use their influence with President Trump regarding potential Administrative actions to mitigate the effects of RFS waivers. …
White House Sends Formal Announcement of Agreement with Japan
(NAFB) — The White House has notified Congress it will sign a trade agreement with Japan. President Donald Trump notified lawmakers he will enter an agreement on tariffs and digital trade with Japan, as the two sides wrap up the talks still this month. The White House published the notice Monday evening. Trump told lawmakers he is “pleased to report …
NCBA Updates USMCA Progress
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Director of International Trade and Market Access Kent Bacus joined the Beltway Beef podcast last week to talk about the new USMCA trade agreement that is being debated by legislators. Bacus said a lot of positive work was done between the two sides during the last break. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Track Record Well …
Tariff Increases Delayed as ‘Good Will’ Gesture
The tariff increases for Chinese imports that were scheduled to be implemented on Oct. 1 are now being delayed by two weeks, in what President Donald Trump is calling “a gesture of good will.” The announcement made via Twitter came on the heels of Chinese officials granting a one-year exemption on retaliatory tariffs on 16 American products. President Trump noted …
NPPC Statement on China Market Access
WASHINGTON, D.C. (NPPC-Sept. 13, 2019) — Chinese media reported that it was suspending the imposition of punitive tariffs on U.S. pork imports. The following is a statement from National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President David Herring, a pork producer from Lillington, N.C.: “If media reports are accurate, this is a most welcome development. The Chinese have placed punitive tariffs of …
Pork Producers Urge Congress to Ratify USMCA
Gene Edited Livestock Regulatory Framework, Pending GIPSA Rule Also Addressed WASHINGTON, D.C. (NPPC-Sept. 12, 2019) – Congressional ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA), allowing the U.S. pork industry to maintain zero-duty market access to two of its largest export markets, remains a top priority for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). More than 120 pork producers from across the …
Urging Congress to Pass USMCA
Congress returned to session this week but is facing a busy legislative agenda with little time to get it done. But one item of interest to many in agriculture is passing the U.S. Mexico Canada (USMCA) trade agreement, worth some $2 billion in new export sales. Mexico has ratified it, Canada says it will, but U.S. lawmakers are busy with …
Navarro: Congress Will Pass USMCA Yet This Year
(NAFB-September 11, 2019) — Peter Navarro says there is a 100 percent chance Congress will pass the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The advisor to President Donald Trump told CNBC news that he “can’t imagine that Nancy Pelosi would not put this on the floor to at least have a vote.” He expects the vote will occur before the end of this …