A Brazilian judge has suspended the use of products containing glyphosate. The federal judge halted new registrations of products containing glyphosate and will suspend existing registrations while the Brazilian government reevaluates the toxicity of glyphosate products, according to Reuters. The decision, however, could face several appeals. Brazil’s public health agency, as well as the Agriculture Ministry, have announced plans to …
Brazil Trucker Strike Disrupting Ag Exports
The Brazilian trucker strike has officially disrupted supply and exports of farm products from one of the biggest ag exporting countries in the world. A Reuters report says Brazil is the top exporter of soybeans, sugar, coffee, and chickens. The strike over high fuel prices has brought Latin America’s largest economy to a complete stop. Roads are empty and major …
Brazil Truck Drivers Quit Working Because of High Diesel Prices
Brazilian truck drivers were protesting high diesel prices for a fourth day this week on Thursday. The truckers don’t plan to quit with blockades until measures to reduce fuel taxes are enshrined in the official gazette. Protests have been crippling highways across the nation. Brazil’s lower house of Congress voted to reduce taxes on diesel. The Senate has yet to …
U.S.-China Trade War a Win For Other Nations?
A Politico report says the real winners of a trade war with China could be some of America’s top global trade competitors. As the two countries push toward a trade deal, long-term trends could be stacked against American producers when it comes to Beijing’s consumption. China will likely keep pouring resources into other countries in an attempt to diversify its …
Soybean Farmers Can’t Replace Chinese Business
U.S. soybean exports could drop as much as 65 percent if the back-and-forth trade rhetoric battle between the two largest economies causes China to slap on retaliatory tariffs. Politico says that number comes from a soon-to-be-published report out of Purdue University. Earlier this month, China said it will put a 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybeans if President Trump follows …
Senators Call for National Security Review of Brazilian Acquisition of U.S. Beef Company
A group of U.S. Senators are calling for a national security review of the Brazilian acquisition of a U.S. beef company. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, along with Ranking Senate Agriculture Committee Member Debbie Stabenow, and others, are urging the Committee on Foreign Investment to review the proposed purchase of National Beef Packing Company by Brazil’s Marfrig Global Foods. The …
WASDE Report Predicts Record Soybean Crop for Brazil
The latest World Agriculture Supply and Demand (WASDE) Report from the Department of Agriculture shows Brazil is reaching a record soybean planting. USDA predicted a record Brazilian soybean crop in the report Tuesday of 115 million metric tons, or 4.2 billion bushels. Domestically, U.S. soybean supply and use changes for 2017/18 include increased crush, lower seed and residual use, and …
Countries Asking U.S. for Tariff Exemptions
European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom is continuing to petition the United States for exemptions to the upcoming steel and aluminum tariffs. Politico quotes her as saying the tariffs will shake the transatlantic relationship between the countries if they go into effect. She told Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross during a phone call that the EU “as a close security ally …
Mexico Buying More Brazilian Corn as NAFTA Negotiations Continue
Mexico purchased ten times more corn from Brazil last year than it had previously. Reuters says that’s due to the uncertainty regarding the potential outcome of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations. Mexican government data and top grain merchants all say they fear supply disruption from the U.S. if the White House ever followed through on its threat …
Brazil Considers Dropping Tariff on U.S. Ethanol Imports
Brazil is considering removing a 20-percent tariff on ethanol imports from the United States. An agriculture official from Brazil said Wednesday the decision could depend on the U.S. lifting a ban on fresh beef exports from Brazil, according to Reuters. Brazil imposed the ethanol tax last year on U.S. imports that exceed a 600-million-liter annual quota to protect local producers. …