Farmers for Free Trade brought its #MotorcadeForTrade to Washington D.C. Thursday to highlight the importance of ag trade with Canada and Mexico and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that Congress will consider to upgrade NAFTA. Members of Congress and farm leaders discussed how USMCA provides farmers with new market access while maintaining a zero-tariff platform, and stressed the need for Congressional …
US and Japan Shake on Trade Deal
During the G-7 summit in France Sunday, President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shook hands on a deal “in principle” that involves agricultural products. “(We) have excess corn in various parts of our country, with our farmers, because China did not do what they said they were going to do,” said President Trump. “And Prime Minister Abe, …
NBB Challenges Argentina Biodiesel Duty Rate Change
The National Biodiesel Board‘s (NBB) Fair Trade Coalition is criticizing a preliminary decision from the Department of Commerce in a “changed circumstances” review of countervailing duties on biodiesel imports from Argentina. According to NBB, the department determined that “Argentina’s recent changes to its export tax regime eliminated certain government subsidies provided to Argentina’s biodiesel producers” which, if finalized, would reduce …
Trump to Visit Iowa Ethanol Plant
President Donald J.Trump will be showing his love for the American farmer again this week as he visits an Iowa ethanol plant to celebrate the easing of summer restrictions on the sale of E15. Trump will be touring Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC (SIRE) in Council Bluffs on Tuesday and will speak to hundreds of farmers and other ethanol industry …
Secretary Perdue Discusses Disaster Aid in Florida
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue visited Florida and Georgia to participate in roundtable discussions on USMCA and disaster aid signed by President Trump yesterday. At his first stop in Tallahassee, Perdue participated in a short press conference with Governor Ron DeSantis prior to the roundtable. Listen here: USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue presser in Florida on disaster aid
Trump Talks E15 During Trade Announcement
President Donald Trump welcomed representatives from a number of agricultural organizations to the White House Thursday to talk about the $16 billion in trade assistance announced by the administration. “I have directed Secretary Perdue to provide $16 billion in assistance to America’s farmers and ranchers. It all comes from China. We’ll be taking in, over a period of time, hundreds …
USDA Announces More Trade Aid for Farmers
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced several actions that USDA will be taking to assist farmers in response to trade damage from unjustified retaliation and trade disruption. President Trump directed Secretary Perdue to craft a relief strategy to support American agricultural producers while the Administration continues to work on free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals to open more …
Ethanol Interests Comment on Canada Clean Fuel Standard
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Growth Energy, and the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) jointly submitted comments this week supporting the Canadian Clean Fuel Standard. The comments to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) offered recommendations on how biofuels, like ethanol, can help reach the ECCC Regulatory Design Paper’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 23 megatons by 2030. “While …
President Urged to Review Argentine Biodiesel Case
As President Trump headed to Argentina this week for the G20 Summit, three biodiesel stakeholder trade groups wrote him to express concern about the U.S. Commerce Department “changed circumstances” reviews of U.S. trade duties on Argentine biodiesel companies. The National Biodiesel Board, the American Soybean Association, and the National Renderers Association urged the president to ensure that Commerce “undertake a …
USDA Under Secretary Northey at #ARA2018
Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service Bill Northey discussed trade and a 2018 farm bill, among other topics, during a visit to the 2018 Agricultural Retailers Association convention this week in Boca Raton, Florida. “I’m very hopeful,” said Northey about getting a farm bill by the end of the year, especially after word Thursday from House and Senate …