The first round of talks between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, ended last week with all three sides saying they’re committed to getting negotiations done as quickly as possible. The next round of talks is scheduled for September 1-5 in Mexico. Talks then move to Canada in late September before coming back to America in October. Bloomberg says a joint …
Next Rounds of NAFTA Talks are Already Scheduled
While the first round of talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) aren’t done yet, the next two rounds are already on the schedule. Politico’s Morning Ag Report says negotiators will head to Mexico City for the next round of talks September 1-5 and to a yet undetermined location in Canada September 23-27. Only 11 days go …
Agriculture’s ‘Do No Harm’ Message Getting Through?
Agriculture’s ‘do no harm’ message to those renegotiating NAFTA seems to be getting through…but will it bear fruit? American Farm Bureau trade adviser Dave Salmonsen says a joint letter from AFBF and the Canadian and Mexican farm associations to their respective governments, is getting the message across But while the negotiators say publicly they seek to preserve the pact’s gains …
Not All Ag Groups Happy with Direction of NAFTA Talks
A handful of farm groups says the North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiation goals favor corporate agribusiness over family farmers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Politico reports that a coalition of farm groups argues that increasing exports won’t replace the need for fair prices in disputes such as the one over Canada’s dairy supply management system, along with eliminating …
U.S., Canadian and Mexican Farm Groups Support Modernized NAFTA
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) and Mexico’s Consejo Nacional Agropecuario (CNA) sent a joint letter to Canadian, the United States, and Mexican government officials reiterating their calls that NAFTA renegotiations should aim to modernize the agreement, rather than dismantle it. The AFBF, CFA, and CNA agree that agriculture represents one of NAFTA’s biggest success …
FDA Relaxes Restrictions on Ultra-Filtered Milk
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is easing its policy on some domestic milk products, making a change the dairy industry has pushed for over the last 20 years. Trade tension with Canada brought the issue to the forefront. Earlier this year, Canada changed policy and stopped importing ultra-filtered milk from the U.S. As a result, many American milk processors …
Canada Bringing Guarded Optimism to NAFTA Talks
Canada is bringing a mix of optimism and dread at the thought of damaging its most important trading relationship as the North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiations begin this week. The Washington Post reports Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently spoke to the National Governors Association conference in July, making a pitch for free trade. Trudeau told the governors, “Free …
NAFTA Renegotiations Start Wednesday
The renegotiations for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) get underway on August 16th. Canada, Mexico, and the United States can sit down at a table to update the 20-year-old agreement. Former Chief Agricultural Trade Negotiator Darci Vetter said the upcoming negotiations represent an opportunity for needed updates to the agreement. Vetter talks about certain parts of NAFTA that …
Canada Plans to Protect its Dairy System in New NAFTA
Canada plans to protect its dairy system under a new North American Free Trade Agreement. As the first round of talks gets underway Wednesday, Canada officials say they will protect the nation’s system of tariffs and quotas that keep domestic dairy prices high and imports low. U.S. dairy farmers strongly dislike the system and want it dismantled. Canada’s Foreign Minister …
Mexico Names Chief NAFTA Negotiator
Mexico announced that Kenneth Smith Ramos would be the nation’s chief negotiator for the North American Free Trade Agreement talks set to begin later this month. Ramos will be Mexico’s chief technical negotiator for the talks between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, according to Politico. Ramos was previously at the trade and NAFTA office of the Mexican Embassy in Washington, …