The 4th annual U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange & Midwest Specialty Grains Conference and Trade Show hosted by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), took place in Indianapolis, IN and is the premiere global soy and grain trade event. Over 700 attendees gathered with 300 of them representing 55 countries across the globe all focused on U.S. soy. The event …
NFU Hosts Presser On TPP Opposition
While many United States trade officials are promoting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as an export-boon for agriculture, the National Farmers Union (NFU) continues to stand strong in their opposition of the free trade agreement. NFU hosted a media teleconference to talk about the TPP and announce a letter signed by 160 food, farm, faith and rural groups. “We are very …
Vilsack and Duvall Discuss Benefits of TPP
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall got together to discuss the benefit of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) for agriculture as AFBF released an economic analysis of the pending trade agreement. “Until today, we didn’t have a specific documented review or study of that benefit,” said Vilsack, said in thanking Farm Bureau for doing the …
#TPP Signed in New Zealand
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 signing of the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement concluded four months ago in Atlanta. The ministers released a joint statement noting that the “signing of the agreement signals an important milestone and the beginning of …
Isreal Reopens for US Beef Imports
This week’s audio report from the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) discusses Israel’s recent decision to reopen to US beef. This will be the first time the country has allow US beef imports since December 2003, when the first confirmed case of BSE in the United States led many countries, including Israel, to suspend imports of U.S. beef. Israel is …
Vilsack Talks Trade, Climate & SOTU
USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack held a press call yesterday to discuss President Obama’s last State of the Union (SOTU) address. Vilsack, who has served in the capacity of Ag Secretary throughout Obama’s Administration, said he is very proud to have been part of an administration that has basically taken the country from a brink of an economic collapse to …
Philippines-EU Trade Agreement Topic of USMEF Report
The latest U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Report discusses the recent announcement by Philippine officials that the country expresses interest in pursuing a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU), with hopes to launch formal FTA negotiations early next year. In the report, Joel Haggard, USMEF senior vice president for the Asia Pacific region, explains how this agreement …
Audio on Trans Pacific Partnership
The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) was finalized by 12 nations on Monday, October 5 in Atlanta, Georgia. During a press conference announcing the agreement, there were many comments about agricultural products in the talks, particularly dairy which was the final piece of the puzzle to fall into place early Monday morning. U.S. Trade Ambassador Michael Froman talks about ag benefits …
Dairy Holds Up TPP Talks
After a week of meetings on the Trans Pacific Partnership, trade ministers from a dozen nations left Hawaii last weekend with issues still unresolved but USTR Michael Froman says they remain optimistic. One of the biggest remaining issues to resolve is in dairy, according to New Zealand’s Trade Minister Tim Groser. “In every negotiation where I have been involved over …
Corn Growers on Cuba Trade Mission
Nine farmer leaders and staff members from the National Corn Growers Association, the U.S. Grains Council and the North Dakota Barley Council traveled to Cuba last month to see first-hand opportunities for expanding U.S. coarse grain exports if trade is fully normalized with the island nation. The mission was part of an ongoing effort by the grains industry to assess …
Nebraska Gov on European Ag Trade Mission
CNH Industrial welcomed Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts last week at the Expo Milano “Sustainable Farm Pavilion” sponsored by its agricultural machinery brand New Holland Agriculture. Ricketts is pictured here with New Holland Agriculture Brand President Carlo Lambro. The governor was accompanied by a delegation that met with CNH Industrial management to discuss activities and investment in Nebraska through its manufacturing …
House Votes to Repeal COOL for Meat
By a vote of 300 to 131, the House of Representatives passed legislation late Wednesday to repeal Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for beef, pork and chicken. “I am thankful for the support of my colleagues today in passing this common-sense, bipartisan bill that is a necessary targeted response to avoid retaliation from Canada and Mexico,” said House Agriculture Committee …
COOL Ruling Reactions
The World Trade Organization this week issued its fourth and final ruling against the United States over Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for livestock and meat products. The final ruling maintained previous conclusions that “the amended COOL measure increases the record-keeping burden for imported livestock entailed by the original COOL measure.” Asked for his reaction, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says …
Ag Interests Urge TPA Passage
Senate Republicans and agriculture industry leaders held a press conference in Washington today to discuss the ways new trade deals could benefit the agriculture community and urge passage of the bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation. Senators speaking on behalf of TPA included Republican Conference Chairman John Thune (R-SD), Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS), Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) …
Global Soybean Stakeholders Discuss Biotech
Representatives from U.S. soybean-farmer-led organizations held a telephone press conference Thursday from China where they will be joining their counterparts from several other countries to discuss the biotech-approval process there. United Soybean Board (USB) chairman Bob Haselwood of Kansas, the American Soybean Association (ASA) president Wade Cowan of Texas, and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) chair Laura Foell of …