North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations with Mexico are going “as well as we can possibly expect right now.” That’s from Gregg Doud, the Chief U.S. Agriculture Negotiator, who spoke at the International Sweetener Symposium in Michigan. The Hagstrom Report says he also mentioned that negotiators “haven’t had market access conversations with Canada of any substance.” He also told …
Agri View: A Look at Current Farm Politics
There have been several things going on lately in the political world that deal with agriculture. Everett Griner talks about farm politics in today’s Agri View. A Look at Current Farm Politics The farm block vote was one of Donald Trump’s strongest groups in the last presidential election. Farmers stood solidly behind his election. Recent issues that have direct impact …
Canada Happily on NAFTA Sidelines, for Now
Canada may be sitting out on the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) talks, for now. However, Canadian officials say they are “perfectly happy” doing so, because “they have a number of issues to discuss that Canada does not need to sit in on,” according to Politico. That includes auto rules in the agreement, a contentious issue between the U.S. …
NAFTA Renegotiation Showing Signs of Progress
The U.S. and Mexico are nearing an agreement on the trade of automobiles as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation effort. Politico reports the U.S. and Mexico are in the “final stages” of reaching a deal on the automotive rules of origin section of NAFTA, key to completing the renegotiation. A team of negotiators is in …
Lighthizer Testimony: NAFTA Deal Possible in August
During congressional testimony on Thursday, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told lawmakers that it’s entirely possible that the three North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) members will reach a deal in August. Lighthizer says that would meet the Mexican objective of having current President Enrique Pena Nieto sign the deal before he leaves office in December. Bloomberg says U.S. trade …
NAFTA Back in the Spotlight
The Mexican negotiating team is back in Washington to continue the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation after talks among the U.S., Mexico, and Canada stalled two months ago. The Mexican Economy Minister will meet with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer for the first time since the Mexican presidential election on July first to formally restart the talks. A …
Mexico and Canada Want NAFTA Conclusion This Year
Mexico and Canada want to wrap up the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement this year, according to the Hagstrom Report. While in Washington, D.C. this week, The Mexican ambassador to the United States says the incoming Mexican president wants NAFTA to “be completed before he takes office on December 1.” An official from Canada said the nation …
Ag Shippers: NAFTA Trade War Costly
Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz says trade disruptions are threatening to undermine an otherwise robust economy. The rail company, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, told the Omaha World-Herald that the current trade disruption: “Affects the 7,300 communities Union Pacific serves.” Specifically, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation effort is harming U.S. railways. About 40 percent of Union Pacific traffic …
Trump: No Hurry to Settle NAFTA
President Donald Trump told Fox News he’s not going to rush into a new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). He thinks the U.S. can get a better deal by waiting until after the dust settles on the midterm elections in the fall. Agriculture groups fall on the other end of the spectrum, wanting a deal done as quickly as …
Perdue Hopeful NAFTA Agreement with Mexico Coming Soon
Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue is out on another “Back to Our Roots” tour, this time to the Pacific Northwest, as well as Alaska. Perdue says he’s hopeful that a new North American Free Trade Agreement can be reached with Mexico very soon. “We believe we’ve got many of the agreements in principle ready to go there,” he says. Perdue told …