A coalition of more than 150 business groups, including several in agriculture, wrote a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer this week regarding trade. The Hagstrom Report says the groups fear additional 10 percent or 25 percent tariffs, put in place under Section 301 authority, will backfire. The letter says, “Continuing the tit-for-tat escalation with China only serves to …
Ag Trade Program Could Boost U.S. Red Meat Exports
Last week, USDA provided more information on the actions it will take to assist farmers in response to trade retaliation imposed by foreign nations. And according to a story from U.S. Meat Export Federation’s Joe Schuele, the Ag Trade Promotion Program could boost U.S. red meat exports. Ag Trade Program Could Boost U.S. Red Meat Exports Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® …
ASTA Requests Exemptions for Seeds on Proposed Chinese Tariffs List
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is requesting that seeds for sowing be exempted from the proposed list of supplemental retaliatory tariffs on China under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The request was made in a formal letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. “While we support the administration’s push for stronger intellectual property protection and enforcement globally, at …
Canada, U.S. NAFTA Talks Appear to be Progressing
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) talks between the U.S. and Canada continue as farm leaders remain hopeful an agreement will be made soon. A small group of state Farm Bureau President’s met with the administration this week and walked away with a positive view that an agreement could quickly be made, along with the future of trade talks …
Roberts, Stabenow Announce Ag Trade Hearing
The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a trade hearing next week, titled “Perspectives on U.S. Agricultural Trade.” Among those attending the hearing is Dr. Robert Johansson, the Chief Economist at the Department of Agriculture and mastermind behind the USDA trade mitigation package formulas. The hearing could serve as a chance for Congress to better understand how Johansson figured the payment …
Tariffs Impacting Ag Equipment Manufactures, Dealers
A survey by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers finds steel and aluminum tariffs are harming the industry. The survey, primarily focused on the current new equipment inventory levels, shows both dealers and manufacturers are aware of the potential effect of steel and aluminum tariffs on the industry. The survey found that overall, new inventory numbers are favorable, when traditionally dealers …
NAFTA Talks Continue in Washington
Trade officials from Canada returned to the U.S. Wednesday as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) talks. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland resumed talks with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, but there are so far no major developments on the contentious issues being discussed, including dairy market access and the dispute settlement mechanism, top issues for Canada, …
NAFTA Partners Say Trilateral Agreement a Must
All sides of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) want a trilateral deal between the U.S., Canada and Mexico, as the White House is pushing towards separate deals. Trade officials from Mexico, along with key lawmakers and trade officials in the U.S., agree a two-way NAFTA is “incomplete,” and won’t win the approval of the U.S. Congress. President Trump …
U.S. Wheat Restructuring Efforts Close Moscow Office
As part of restructuring overseas offices, U.S. Wheat Associates will close its office in Moscow, Russia, at the end of this month. The organization says the reorganization reflects an effort to refocus resources toward markets with the best potential to grow U.S. wheat exports and returns for the farmers the organization represents. Based in part on the significant increase in …
China Predicted to cut U.S. Soybean exports
China’s exports of U.S. soybeans are expected to plummet over the next marketing year, according to the latest forecast. A soybean crushing industry executive told Reuters this week that China will almost entirely replace its soybean imports from the United States with Brazilian beans and other origins in the upcoming season. The latest forecast from China predicts Imports from the …