Protesters nearly shut down the city of Auckland, New Zealand yesterday, but the ceremonial signing of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) went on as scheduled. Trade ministers representing Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States, and Vietnam gathered for the signing of the historic agreement concluded four months ago in Atlanta. The ministers …
China Company to Buy Syngenta
*UPDATED with audio* Here’s some big news of the day. Syngenta announced today that ChemChina has offered to acquire the company for $43 billion. The Board of Directors of Syngenta considers that the proposed transaction respects the interests of all stakeholders and is unanimously recommending the offer to shareholders. There is committed financing for the deal and a strong commitment …
Chile & Peru Slated for Stops on USDA Trade Mission
Two South American countries have been slated for a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) trade mission. This news release from the agency says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will lead a trade mission March 14-18 to expand export opportunities for U.S. agriculture in Chile and Peru. “Thanks to existing free trade agreements, the United States enjoys strong trading relationships with both …
Ag Secretary Comments on Climate Accord
As the announcement came over the weekend that negotiators from nearly 200 countries had approved a landmark climate accord, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack commented on what the deal means for our nation’s farmers and ranchers. “The historic COP21 deal supports a better-nourished, stable, secure future for the United States and every nation,” Vilsack said in a statement. “The benchmarks outlined …
USDA Looks to Expand Export Markets with MAP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has handed out the fiscal year 2016 award funds for its program for commerical export markets for U.S. goods. This agency news release says the Market Access Program (MAP) will provide more than $170 million that focuses on consumer promotion, including brand promotion for small companies and cooperatives, and is used extensively by organizations …
USDA Sec & Deputy on Trade Trips to Japan & Africa
USDA’s top two officials are talking trade this week in two different regions. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is traveling to Japan Nov. 19-21, and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden is going to Africa, Nov. 17-20. Secretary Vilsack will be meeting with Japanese officials to discuss the recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership and the strong history of trade between the U.S. …
Cotton Industry Wants No More Trade Constraints
The National Cotton Council is calling for an end to constraints on U.S. cotton policy in the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) December Ministerial in Nairobi, Kenya. The group’s president and CEO Gary Adams testified before the House Agriculture Committee that U.S. trade negotiators need to maintain a firm commitment not to accept any further concessions to U.S. cotton policy. He …
New Zealand’s Trade Minister at #IFAJ2015
One of the hard news highlights of the 2015 IFAJ Congress was hearing from the man who was responsible for holding up the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement to get New Zealand’s dairy industry more access to other markets. “The fundamental reason why New Zealand agriculture is so strong is we don’t have a choice, it’s export or die for us,” …
New Zealand’s Minister of Primary Industries
The Honorable Nathan Guy, Minister of Primary Industries for New Zealand, is basically the counterpart of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in this country and he was delighted to welcome the 2015 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Congress to “little old New Zealand.” “This is a significant event for New Zealand,” said Guy of the 33 countries represented at the …
Greetings from IFAJ in New Zealand
We have seen the future and it is in New Zealand – 18 hours ahead of central time in the United States! The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) 2015 Congress is being held in Hamilton, New Zealand where we are learning a lot about this small, two island, South Pacific nation that is home to 30 million sheep, seven …