USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor led an agribusiness delegation to Santiago, Chile this week with representatives from the U.S. food and agriculture sectors and state departments of agriculture. “As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of U.S.-Chile relations, I am honored to lead such an incredible group as we work with Chilean importers on expanding …
USDA Under Secretary Leads Trade Mission to Japan
USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor led a trade mission to Japan this week with representatives from 11 state departments of agriculture, numerous farm organizations, and 40 agribusinesses looking to connect with future business partners in Japan. “As one of the largest world economies, Japan is one of the top and most reliable trading partners …
Hearing Explores Agricultural Trade Issues
Senators heard from representatives of U.S. peanut growers, dairy producers and wheat farmers Thursday during a hearing on “Agricultural Trade: Priorities and Issues Facing America’s Farmers.” Representing the U.S. Peanut Federation before the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade, was Karla Baker Thompson with JET Farms Georgia and Integrity Farms of Camilla, Georgia. Thompson highlighted the decline …
Vilsack Talks Trade With Mexican Officials
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack met with his counterpart Mexico Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Victor Villalobos this week to “continue cooperation on shared priorities including open trade, science-based policy making, and sustainable and climate-smart agricultural production.” That meeting resulted in Vilsack and Villalobos announcing that the two countries have agreed to final actions to expanded access to the …
USDA Secretary from COP26
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack held a media call Friday afternoon from COP26 in Glasgow, UK. He discussed COP26 events, the recently-announced partnership with the EU and the Agriculture Innovation Mission (AIM) for Climate. Taking questions from reporters, Vilsack also commented on trade issues, the Build Back Better act, “climate smart commodities,” methane emissions and livestock, biofuels talk at COP26, CSAF …
Farmers for Free Trade Panel
Farmers for Free Trade held a virtual roundtable last Thursday to focus on the current trade landscape, the Biden administration’s trade agenda, and how ag exports are critical to workers throughout America. On the panel was Dr. Joseph Glauber, currently Senior Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute but well known as former chief economist at USDA from …
Administration Plans to Press China on Trade Agreement
United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai delivered remarks Monday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) “outlining the Biden-Harris Administration’s new approach to the U.S.-China bilateral trade relationship.” Ambassador Tai said they will begin by having discussions with China about its performance under the Phase One Agreement and commitments made “that benefit certain American industries, including agriculture, that …
2021 NASDA Annual Meeting
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Hybrid Annual Meeting – Louisville, KY – Sept. 19-22 – hosted by NASDA president and Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles with the theme “Redefining Agriculture” U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, provide perspective on administration priorities and issues important to …
Agricultural Leaders Release Roadmap for Trade
Farmers for Free Trade held a virtual press conference Tuesday to release a new report on the challenges and solutions for American agriculture on trade, supply chains and global competitiveness. The report is the culmination of a series of discussions across rural America with farmers, ag leaders and related industries including manufacturing and food producers and distributors. The report, organized …
Agri-Pulse Hosts National Pork Board Webinar on Trade
Agri-Pulse president Sara Wyant moderated a discussion on Thursday with USDA Trade Undersecretary Ted McKinney, North Carolina hog farmer Jan Archer, and Iowa State University economist Dermot Hayes on how exports add value for pork producers and support U.S. jobs. The event was sponsored by the National Pork Board. Watch the webinar here. Listen to the audio here: (1 hour)
Ambassador Doud Proud of Trade Accomplishments
The chief agricultural negotiator for the U.S. Trade Representative gave an update on the phase one agreement with China, and talked about what he believes are the major trade accomplishments of the Trump administration for the nation’s farmers and ranchers during an appearance at the 2020 Agribusiness Council of Kansas City Ag Outlook Forum. Listen to Ambassador Doud’s remarks: (35:01)
USMCA Implementation Celebration Roundtable
To celebrate the implementation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst and American ag leaders held a virtual roundtable to discuss the importance of USMCA to farmers, rural communities and ag exports. The roundtable was hosted by Farmers for Free Trade, which showed support for USMCA with an 11 state, 4,300 mile …
President Trump Signs USMCA
President Donald J. Trump today signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), with improved access to both markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers. According to the White House, American agricultural exports are expected to increase by $2.2 billion under USMCA. Under the agreement, Canada has agreed to expand market access for American dairy, egg, and poultry producers and grow annual dairy …
Secretary Perdue Press Call from Rome
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has been traveling Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy this week to engage with his counterparts on important issues facing agriculture at home and abroad. The Secretary, along with Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney has been participating in events with government officials and agricultural leaders. As President Trump was preparing to …
Agriculture Celebrates China Phase One Trade Deal Signing
President Donald Trump signed the historic Phase One Trade Agreement with China Wednesday, an agreement which calls for China to purchase between $40 and $50 billion in American agricultural goods each year for two years. “Together we are righting the wrongs of the past and delivering a future of economic justice and security for American workers, farmers, and families,” said …