Trump Wants Quick Action on USMCA

President Donald Trump wants lawmakers to move quickly to approve the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The USMCA, Trump’s replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement, is currently being navigated through procedural hurdles before the administration can present the final proposed agreement to Congress. Lawmakers must consider the agreement on a simple yes or no vote, with no amendments, with Trade …

Soybean Growers Unhappy with President Trump’s Comments on Keeping Tariffs in Place under a China Agreement

The American Soybean Association (ASA) is not pleased with recent comments from President Trump that he could leave tariffs in place under an agreement with China. ASA has always considered the lifting of the Section 301 tariffs by the U.S. in exchange for China removing its retaliatory 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybean imports as essential to any initial agreement …

Hemp Industry Looking at Establishing a Trade Association

A coalition of hemp farmers, farm service companies, processors, crop insurance agents and lenders, as well as other stakeholders, are looking at possibly establishing a trade association group. The Hagstrom Report says the goal is to have an organization that represents the hemp industry in Washington, D.C. Hemp is currently used to make textiles, paper, paint, oil, biodegradable plastics, and …

Lawmakers say No to Potential EU-U.S. Trade Agreement without Agriculture

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is demanding the Trump Administration force the European Union to include agriculture in upcoming trade talks. A group of 114 lawmakers penned a letter this week to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer stating, “an agreement with the EU that does not address trade in agriculture would be, in our eyes, unacceptable.” The U.S. and EU …

Trade a Big Issue for NCBA

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has their official Policy Priorities for 2019. And according to NCBA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Colin Woodall, one of the top four issues is trade. And while he knows 2018 was a good year for beef exports, there are many issues to work on this year. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Production ResearchMay …

China, U.S. Nearing Trade Deal

The U.S. and China are inching closer to an agreement on trade that could be reached this month, according to those close to the talks. Bloomberg reports an agreement could be reached and finalized later this month during a planned summit between China’s President and President Donald Trump. As part of the potential agreement, China would lower tariffs on agricultural …

Ag Organizations Endorse USMCA

The National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, and the National Sorghum Producers announced their collective support for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA). The announcement came as the organizations took part in the Commodity Classic, held in Orlando, Florida. The groups say Mexico and Canada account for 25 percent of all U.S. agriculture exports …

WTO Officially Acknowledges Chinese Subsidies Violate Rules

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has now officially ruled in favor of the U.S. in a complaint related to Chinese subsidies for agricultural products.  The WTO dispute settlement panel found that China exceeded international standards for farming support, causing trade distortion and creating artificial pricing for wheat and rice.  The ruling was expected to go in favor of the U.S. …