European Union

A report released last week by the president of the European Union suggests that “the EU should undertake a major overhaul of its Common Agricultural Policy to subsidise farmers based on their income rather than the size of their farms.” The...

America’s top food and ag organizations representing thousands of farmers, ranchers, producers, and workers sent a letter to Congress recently urging action to improve ag exports.  More than 50 of the most influential food and ag groups urged lawmakers to pass Trade Promotion Authority.  TPA is regula ...

Doug McKalip says he is busy in his role as Chief Agricultural Negotiator with the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office.  He recently noted that he has a host of priorities on his to-do list.   “The first focus would be on keeping markets we have open. A lot of work has been do...

U.S. and European Union counterparts met late last week to discuss transatlantic agriculture and food sustainability.   “It's an ongoing conversation and I think the most important thing here is that you need to keep talking to one another you need to keep searching for that elusive sweet spot that you find every once in a while that allows you to take a step forward,” said Ag Secretary Tom Vilsac

Oil prices continue the march higher we’ve seen through the first three weeks of 2023.  West Texas Crude was up slightly in Monday’s trade, around $81 per barrel.  Patrick DeHaan with Gasbuddy said there are several issues pushing oil prices higher, and tops on that list, China.   “Reopening its economy, the...

United States and European Union trade leaders signed a tariff Rate Quote Agreement this week.  The agreement, once implemented, will enable the United States to preserve its existing access to the EU market for various agricultural commodities following the United Kingdom's exit from the EU.   ...

More than 30 agribusinesses and farm organizations will visit Madrid, Spain, Tuesday through Friday this week, during a USDA trade mission.  Delegation members will engage directly with potential buyers from Spain and Portugal and receive in-depth market briefs from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and industry trade experts and participate in site visits. Spain is the third-...

Oil prices traded slightly higher in Monday's action, as investors tried to shake off fears of weaker demand into winter.  West Texas Crude traded around $87 per barrel , up slightly from the weekend.  While oil prices have edged higher as of recent, Patrick DeHaan says that's not a guarantee as we look to the weeks ahead.  He note...

Key industry groups say the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, recently signed into law by President Biden, hasn’t fixed West Coast shipping problems for U.S. dairy exports.  The National Milk Producers Federation and U.S. Dairy Export Council trade manager Tony Rice says the Act was supposed to end abuses by ocean carriers. “But u...

While public agricultural research and development funding in the United States has trended downward in recent decades, several other major trading partners have increased their funding.  ERS reported Monday that China leads the world in agricultural research and development funding.  The Eur...