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 …
USDA Official on the Road for Trade
USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Alexis Taylor has been meeting with agricultural stakeholders around the country to talk about the importance of Trade Promotion Authority for the president in expanding international markets for U.S. products. Taylor was in Florida this week and she’s also visited with producers in California, Oregon, Washington, and Pennsylvania. In this …
USDA Under Secretary Talks Trade
The Missouri State University William H. Darr School of Agriculture hosted the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, Michael Scuse at a luncheon with Missouri agriculture leaders on February 17. Scuse mainly discussed trade negotiations, the importance of Congress granting the president Trade Promotion Authority, and issues such as the current ban on poultry imports by China due …
Ag Coalition for Cuba Launched
More than 25 companies and organizations launched the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC) in Washington Thursday to liberalize trade and re-establish Cuba as a market for U.S. food and agriculture exports. Lawmakers Back Cuba Ag Trade Coalition
RFA at Export Exchange
The 2014 Export Exchange was held October 20-22 in Seattle, Washington with representatives from more than 50 different countries in attendance to learn more about DDGS, the distillers feed product produced by U.S. ethanol plants. The event is sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). In this interview, RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen talks …
COOL Reform Coalition Reacts to WTO Ruling
The World Trade Organization (WTO) released the compliance panel report on the U.S. Country of Origin labeling (COOL) law finding that “the amended COOL measure violates Article 2.1 of the TBT Agreement because it accords to Canadian and Mexican livestock less favourable treatment than that accorded to like US livestock.” The COOL Reform Coalition held a press call and webinar …