U.S. Meat Export Federation Pushes for Trade Barrier Reforms The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is calling on the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to take decisive action to address persistent trade barriers in several African and Caribbean nations that are restricting U.S. red meat exports. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom highlighted key market access challenges, …
USTR Announces Section 301 Investigation of Brazil
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has launched a Section 301 investigation into Brazil’s trade practices, signaling a potential shift in long-standing agricultural trade tensions. The investigation, initiated under the Trade Act of 1974, will assess whether Brazil’s policies—including preferential tariffs and restricted ethanol market access—are unfair, discriminatory, or harmful to U.S. commerce. Ethanol Access a Key …
USDA and USTR Seek New Trade Advisory Committee Members
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) are accepting applications for new members to serve on agricultural trade advisory committees. Members of the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee advise the administration on implementing and enforcing existing U.S. trade agreements, negotiation of new agreements, and other trade policy matters. Members of the six Agricultural Technical …
Report: U.S. Animal Protein Needs Trade Negotiators Back at the Table
A report from CoBank shows animal agriculture needs trade negotiators at the table to build export markets. The report says the recent nomination of a chief agriculture negotiator with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is an important step forward. However, Elaine Trevino has yet to be confirmed by the Senate. U.S. animal protein exports have grown from $7.4 …
NPPC Supports Tai Nomination as U.S. Trade Representative
(NPPC) — President-Elect Joe Biden on Thursday nominated Katherine Tai to be the U.S. Trade Representative. Since 2017, she has been the chief trade counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee and previously served in the Office of the United States Trade Representative as chief counsel for China Trade Enforcement. The following statement may be attributed to National Pork …
AFBF Welcomes Nomination of Katherine Tai for U.S. Trade Representative
(AFBF) — President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate Katherine Tai to be U.S. Trade Representative. The following statement may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “We’re pleased President-elect Biden will reportedly nominate Katherine Tai to be the next U.S. Trade Representative. America’s farmers and ranchers rely on a fair marketplace to compete globally and it’s …
USTR Must Address Key Trade Barriers Harming U.S. Dairy in the Coming Year
Given the national and strategic importance of U.S. dairy exports, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) released an Executive Summary of its recent detailed analysis of the intricate web of global trade barriers that are hampering overseas dairy sales, to better inform and guide the work of the incoming administration and other policymakers. The detailed submission to …
USTR Releases NAFTA Negotiating Objectives
United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer today released a detailed and comprehensive summary of the negotiating objectives for the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Through the renegotiation of NAFTA, the Trump Administration will seek a much better agreement that reduces the U.S. trade deficit and is fair for all Americans by improving market access in Canada …
USTR: No NAFTA Deadline Set
The U.S. Trade Representative’s Office says no deadline has been set to finalize North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations that can’t begin until mid-August. Officials from Mexico have suggested that Mexico and USTR Robert Lighthizer have agreed on a December 15th deadline to wrap up the negotiations. However, the USTR office told Politico this week no date has been set …
NCBA Applauds USTR for Defending U.S. Beef from European Mistreatment
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced it will start the process of reinstating retaliatory tariffs on goods and products from the European Union (E.U.) due to the E.U.’s unfair treatment of U.S. beef. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Tracy Brunner applauds USTR Ambassador Michael Froman for standing up for the U.S. beef industry and taking action …