Setting Ag Trade Priorities for 2018

As the Federal Government and USDA begin planning for 2018, one major priority with agriculture trade and exports.

USDA Trade Counsel Jason Hafemeister has a partial list of what they want to accomplish next year.

“There’s substantial new opportunities for U.S. agriculture; getting better access to China, expanding sales in Indonesia and Japan, Vietnam and other countries.”

Hafemeister said one way that agriculture exports have really risen is through trade agreements.

“What we want to do is make sure to keep those agreements viable and so we’re definitely working to make sure that those markets stay open, but we also want to focus on the countries where we have real barriers.”

Hafemeister said they are in D.C. now working with the Trump Administration and other countries to make sure that they are protecting agriculture interests.