Industry News

U.S. Export / Trade Issues

Trucking Dispute Intensifies as Mexico Expands Tariff Target List
The Mexican government revised and expanded a list of products it is slapping with tariffs as retaliation for the United States' failure to comply with NAFTA's provisions that allow Mexican truck drivers to operate in the United States.

NAWG: Canadian House approval of trade agreement with Colombia threatens U.S. market share
Canada's House of Commons last week approved a trade agreement between that country and Colombia, taking a major step toward passage of a measure that could ultimately devastate the U.S. wheat industry's share in its largest Latin American market, according to the National Association of Wheat Growers.

Lincoln, Cantwell call for opening ag trade with Cuba
USAgNet (March 15, 2010) - U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, and Maria Cantwell of Washington last week said relaxing restrictions on agricultural trade with Cuba is key to creating jobs and expanding exports from the U.S. agricultural sector.

Editorial: Exports are key to economic recovery
Minneapolis Star-Tribune (February 21, 2010) - After he got little reaction from Republicans to his boast about cutting taxes for 95 percent of working families, President Obama went off-script during his State of the Union Address. "I thought I'd get some applause on that one,'' he joked. Instead, a bipartisan burst of clapping did break out when Obama announced a National Export Initiative, with a goal of doubling exports over the next five years.

AFBF urges congressional leaders to expedite passage of trade agreements
AgProfessional (February 1, 2010) - American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman is urging members of the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee to take the lead in achieving President Barack Obama's goal outlined in the State of the Union address of doubling U.S. exports over the next five years.

U.S. Trade Deficit Narrows Unexpectedly In August
Manufacturing.net (October 9, 2009) - The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly narrowed in August as exports posted a small gain, while imports fell on a big drop in demand for foreign oil. The Commerce Department said Friday that the trade deficit declined 3.5 percent to $30.7 billion, surprising economists who had expected higher oil prices to push the imbalance to $33 billion. Oil prices did shoot up, but the volume of shipments dropped sharply in August.

USGC: U.S. Exports Vital to Surviving Economic Crisis
USAgNet (August 31, 2009) - Last week, USDA's Economic Research Service published a report titled: 'What the 2008-2009 World Economic Crisis Means for Global Agricultural Trade.' The report states the global economic crisis that started in 2008 caused a reduction in overall international trade, including a 20 percent short-term decline in the value of global agricultural trade.

U.S. Exports Vital for Surviving World Economic Crisis
USAgNet (August 28, 2009) - Last week, USDA's Economic Research Service published a report titled, 'What the 2008-2009 World Economic Crisis Means for Global Agricultural Trade.' The report states the global economic crisis that started in 2008 caused a reduction in overall international trade, including a 20 percent short-term decline in the value of global agricultural trade.