What Are The Administration’s Ag Trade Priorities?

U.S. Agriculture trade negotiator Julie Callahan previewed the administration’s farm trade goals for this year at a recent Agri-Pulse forum.  Callahan said the “bumper sticker” version of USTR’s recent Ag policy report is “full speed ahead” on the administration’s “America First Trade Policy".

“We have the USMCA review," Callahan noted.  "Very much recognize the importance of the USMCA for ag stakeholders…we will continue our agreements on reciprocal trade negotiations with additional trading partners…and we’ll be pursuing other bilateral trade negotiations, including with China.”

Callahan says issues remain with China on beef, avian influenza and GMO crops.  She says Trade Ambassador Jamieson Greer recently met with the Chinese in Paris.

“Ambassador [Jamieson] Greer explained that the two sides had agreed on a work plan of deliverables for the presidential summit, which will take place later in the spring. And this work plan includes expanding exports of US agricultural goods to China,” she said.

The U.S. still has a 10% global duty on Chinese goods, and the two nations have dueling trade investigations, though those could end post-summit.  Callahan says the United States wants market stability in China.

“We want a predictable, transactional relationship," Callahan said.  "That market should not be zero, but also, we don’t want to over-rely on the Chinese market. And that’s why the agreements on reciprocal trade, in addition to the conversations with China, will bring that stability back for our farmers and ranchers.”

Despite controversy over the administration’s tariff policy,   Callahan insists USTR has opened Ag markets with both completed trade deals and several still being negotiated.

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