The broad spending and tax legislation compromise unveiled by House Republicans Tuesday night included a very big announcement on the repeal of mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for meat to prevent more than $1 billion in trade sanctions from Mexico and Canada approved last week by the WTO. “Farm Bureau supports COOL programs that are in line with world trade rules,” … Read More
Meat Export Review from #NAFB15
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) admits it has been a tough year for meat exports nationwide with 2014 being a record year for beef and pork. USMEF’s Vice President of Communications, Joe Schuele, was at this year’s NAFB Trade Talk and gave a complete market update. “One thing is encouraging on the beef side. We have been in a … Read More
TPP Discussed at #NAFB15
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has been a common topic covered by ag groups at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention in Kansas City this week. Representatives from six national farm groups joined USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Phil Karsting in Kansas City Wednesday for a press event to discuss the TPP. The event featured farmer leaders from the American … Read More
Pork Industry Expresses Support for TPP
National Pork Producers Council President-elect John Weber referred to the Trans-Pacific Partnership(TPP) as “the biggest commercial opportunity ever for U.S. pork producers,” during a press conference this week on the recently concluded free trade deal. “America’s pork producers strongly and unequivocally support the TPP, and we urge Congress to quickly pass it,” said Weber, a pork producer from Dysart, Iowa. … Read More
John Block Reports on TTIP
This week in Washington, John Block is reporting on the European Trade Agreement with the United States (TTIP) that is still in the process of negotiation. Should the agreement succeed in passing through both ends of the government, it will be considered an incredible win for agriculture. Recent changes in European legislation, however, are making the success of the agreement … Read More
White House Pulls South Africa’s AGOA Benefits
The White House has announced that beginning Jan. 1 South Africa will lose its privilege to ship to the United States agricultural products through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) at a zero-tariff rate. The National Pork Producers Council supports this and has been urging the administration to withdraw or limit trade benefits for South Africa because of that … Read More
September US Meat Export Numbers
The USDA has released export statistics on U.S. meat products and U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) has compiled a summary. U.S. pork exports showed modest improvement in September while beef exports endured the most difficult month in some time. September pork export volume was up 6 percent from a year ago to 172,012 metric tons (mt). Export value was $456.1 … Read More
Pork Strongly Supports TPP
After reviewing the text of the recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, the National Pork Producers Council have expressed unequivocal support for the TPP deal and called on the U.S. Congress to expeditiously pass the agreement. Initiated in late 2008, TPP is a regional trade deal that includes the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New … Read More
U.S. Dairy Industry Urges Senate to Solve COOL Issue
The National Milk Producers Federation, U.S. Dairy Export Council and International Dairy Foods Association believe Congress should solve the trade dispute over country-of-origin labeling (COOL) to head off damaging new tariffs on U.S. dairy exports by Canada and Mexico. In a letter to the Senate, the dairy industry expressed “growing apprehension” that retaliatory tariffs are drawing closer under a finding … Read More
NCBA Urges Conclusion to TPP
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is asking for a swift conclusion to the TTP negotiations as the United States gears up for a meeting of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Ministers. “Cattlemen and women have high expectations for the TPP as a true 21st century agreement, eliminating tariff and non-tariff trade barriers across 12 member countries,” said Philip Ellis, NCBA president. “We are encouraged by … Read More