An interim report from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) highlights the progress made so far in implementing the agricultural provisions in the U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement. To date, China has implemented at least 50 of the 57 technical commitments under the Phase One Agreement. These structural changes will benefit American …
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 on Monday. “How many of you …
All Ag All Day Reports From DC
Thanks to COVID, there have been few opportunities for in-person visits on Capitol Hill but farm broadcaster Tony Ricketts spent all last week on the 4th Annual All Ag, All Day DC Capitol Ag Tour. Ricketts met with members of Congress, including the House Ag Committee, and agricultural industry leaders to discuss important topics such as trade, infrastructure, broadband, and …
Branstad Coming Home from China
U.S. Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China Terry Branstad will retire from his position as U.S. envoy and depart Beijing in early October. During his tenure as ambassador, which began in June 2017, the former Iowa governor traveled to 26 provinces and autonomous regions in China, and would have visited all of them if COVID-19 had not limited his …
International Trade Issues at #BeefMeet Summer Meeting
The 2020 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting is taking place in Denver, CO. Committees will be meeting to provide direction for the organizations that participate which include the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board, American National CattleWomen, Inc. and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. We have created a virtual ag newsroom on AgNewsWire to provide a resource …
USMCA Implementation Celebration Roundtable
To celebrate the July 1 implementation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson and U.S. Senator Joni Ernst held a virtual roundtable Tuesday 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 …
ASA Focused on Trade
The American Soybean Association (ASA) is one of the groups who holds its annual meeting during the Commodity Classic each year. It’s an opportunity to set goals and work through the resolution process for the year ahead, according to Minnesota farmer Bill Gordon, who currently serves as the organization’s president. Gordon said the association’s number one priority right now is …
Northern Commodity Transportation Conference to Debut
The inaugural Northern Commodity Transportation Conference (NCTC) is being held March 11-12 in Bloomington, Minn. The conference is being organized by Ag Management Solutions (AMS), in conjunction with commodity groups from Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, and is focused on uniting the commodity transportation industry to discuss trade and transportation issues and challenges. Transportation and non-tariff barrier topics such …
USDA’s McKinney Optimistic About Ethanol Exports
USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney says he will leave “no stone unturned” in his quest to increase U.S. agricultural exports, including ethanol. McKinney spoke to the Renewable Fuels Association National Ethanol Conference Wednesday about the markets where he sees the most potential for ethanol, including China, Mexico, Brazil, and India. Listen to his remarks: …
President Trump Signs USMCA
President Donald J. Trump today signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), replacing the outdated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), with improved access to both markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers. “This agreement is a tremendous breakthrough for American agriculture,” said President Trump in remarks before signing the agreement. “Poultry exports to Canada are expected to rise 50 percent and …