A new effort seeks to protect U.S. agriculture from trade retaliation. Americans for Farmers and Families Tuesday announced the “Retaliation Hurts Rural Families” project. Former Missouri state lawmaker and spokesperson for the project, Casey Guernsey, says the effort will help farmers and ranchers “communicate with one voice” to the Trump administration that “rural and farming communities must be heard.” The …
China: U.S. “Severely Damaged” Multilateral Trade
Steel and aluminum tariffs crafted by the Trump administration based on national security have “severely damaged” the multilateral trade system, according to officials from China. In a translated news release, a Chinese trade official says the nation will take legal actions through the World Trade Organization to “maintain the stability and authority” of multilateral trade. The comment came late last …
Trade Tiff with China Serves as Negotiating Primer
A leading U.S. agricultural economist suggests that the trade issues with China serve as a vehicle for negotiations. Purdue University agricultural economist Chris Hurt says China may be simply signaling the U.S. that the nation wants to negotiate, just as the U.S. has seemed to signal to China in crafting the tariffs. That seems to be the case, too, according …
Trade Issues Pose Farm Bill Challenges
During a Senate hearing last week, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts linked the state of U.S. trade to the farm bill, remarking trade presents more challenges to the farm bill. Speaking last week at a Senate Finance Committee hearing with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Roberts simply said: “This is not a good situation.” Speculating that if Congress needs …
Farm Bureau Concerned About Possible Chinese Trade Retaliation
The following statement on possible trade retaliation by China against U.S. farm exports may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “If the trade situation continues to deteriorate, our lives as farmers and ranchers will become more difficult. America’s farmers and ranchers export more than $21 billion of farm products to China – more than 20 percent …
John Deere Concerned About Trade Retaliation
The world’s largest maker of agriculture equipment, Deere and Company, is worried that possible trade tensions between the U.S. and other countries could affect its machinery sales. A Bloomberg report says the steel and aluminum tariffs on imports to America will have an impact on the company. But, Deere is much more worried about possible trade retaliation that could target …
U.S. Talking With Other Countries About Tariff Exemptions
The U.S. is currently discussing the possibility of steel and aluminum tariff exemptions with a handful of other countries. A Reuters report says America is currently in talks with the European Union, Australia, and Argentina. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer testified before the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday that President Donald Trump will soon make a decision on imposing …
Trump Administration Formally Requests Fast-Track Extension
President Trump formally requested a three-year extension of trade promotion authority on Tuesday. Politico says the trade promotion authority allows the president to negotiate free trade agreements that he can submit to Congress under fast-track approval procedures. However, the request comes amid growing concerns in the Republican party over the direction of the administration’s trade policy. Trump’s message to Congress …
Agri View: Trade, Politics Impacting Farm Jobs
Everett Griner talks about how trade and politics directly impact farm jobs and farming in today’s Agri View. Trade, Politics Impacting Farm Jobs The uncertainty of the future of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) has a lot of people, besides farmers, concerned. If you look at the current structure and the possibilities, you can see why. An estimated 21 …
Senate Finance Committee Wants to Talk Trade, Tariffs
The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing next Thursday, March 22, regarding the Trump Administration’s trade policy. The Hagstrom Report says that U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will be the lone witness at the proceedings. The committee chair, Republican Orrin Hatch of Utah, has been critical of President Donald Trump’s announced trade tariffs. Hatch says in a news release, …