Everett Griner talks about the strong support being shown for trade with Cuba in today’s Agri View.
New Zealand Triples U.S. DDGS Purchases
Record milk production in New Zealand has led the nation to triple the amount of imported U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles. The U.S. Grains Council reports that the 2017 milk supply in New Zealand is expected to reach 21.9 million tons, surpassing the prior record of 2014, thanks to higher-expected cow numbers and optimal pasture conditions. With the further …
Trade Officials Talks KORUS
Trade leaders from South Korea and the United States met for the first time last week to discuss the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. The Trump administration has targeted the free trade agreement for renegotiation, or even termination. A South Korea-based news agency reports U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer met with South Korea’s Trade Minister to “discuss ways to move forward” …
Is NAFTA Renegotiation Slowing Other Trade Deals?
An Agri-Pulse report says the North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations may actually be costing agriculture other opportunities. The non-yet-fully-staffed Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is fully occupied with NAFTA. However, groups like the National Pork Producers Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association want the Trump administration to push ahead with other trade agreements in order to cut …
NAFTA Talks Head to Canada Next Week
The third round of formal negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement gets underway next week in Canada. Round three of the talks are planned in Ottaway September 23rd through September 27th. The meeting follows the first set of talks in Washington, D.C., and the second round of talks held in Mexico City, Mexico earlier this month. However, rounds …
Egypt Downplaying Wheat Cargo Denials
The world’s largest wheat buyer is backing away from recent comments regarding poppy seeds found in wheat shipments. Egypt has rejected two cargoes of wheat for import after testing found the shipments were contaminated with poppy seeds that Egypt called “drug-producing.” However, the poppy seeds were found to be of non-opium producing kinds, and Egypt now calls them “not very …
Mexico Considering Protections in NAFTA
A potential counterproposal by Mexico could limit pork leg imports from the United States under the North American Free Trade Agreement. As renegotiation efforts continue, Mexico may counter a proposal U.S. trade officials are considering that would give seasonal fruit and vegetable farmers added protection, according to Reuters. The U.S. is considering a proposal to protect certain products by making …
Japan Interested in Multi-nation Trade Agreements, Not Bilateral Trade
Leaders from Japan told a Nebraska trade delegation last week that Japan is not interested in a bilateral trade agreement with the United States. Instead, Japan told Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts that the nation is holding out for the U.S. to rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership, according to the Omaha World-Herald. Ricketts says he is pressing U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer …
Farm Leaders Make the Case for Keeping KORUS
Pressure from the Ag community continues to build, as the President continues to toy with the idea of withdrawing the U.S. from the Korea-U.S. free trade deal, known as KORUS. Hundreds of farm leaders were in Washington, D.C. recently to make their case for keeping KORUS and expanding farm trade.
Sunset Proposal in NAFTA 2.0
As the next round of negotiations regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement approach, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is considering submitting a “sunset” proposal. That’s a provision that would automatically cancel the deal five years after approval if the three countries don’t agree to renew it. The USTR began circulating the idea among federal agencies last week …