Phase One

It was January 15th, 2020 when the U.S. and China signed the Phase One Trade agreement, which the Trump Administration said tore down major market barriers for American food and Ag exports.  The long-term hope was China would committee to buying even larger amounts of U.S. produc...

One American Farm Bureau official says the U.S. and China want to reduce or drop Trump-era tariffs on a range of goods, possibly including farm goods, but any such deal if a far way from official. AFBF Senior Director of Congressional Relations Dave Salmonsen said both sides have signaled an interest in reducing the tariffs, but there’s still a big question that must be answered, first; will the

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai took on a variety of Ag-related issues, during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing Wednesday, including China, USMCA and the war in Ukraine. Tai listed administration trade wins, including in agriculture, refuting GOP criticism it hasn't been enough ...

Despite not living up to their Phase One trade agreement, China is still the top export market for U.S. agricultural products. "We're glad to see that exports have bounced back, if you will, in that market.  2021 saw three times the level of exports than in 2018 when we had the trade dispute," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack at the recent USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum. "W

During February's USDA Outlook Forum, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai discussed China during. "The overall relationship with China is a really, really important one; profoundly consequential.  But it is also a complicated one and becoming increasingly complex." ...

Last week, the USDA released its export forecast. American Farm Bureau Federation Senior Economist Veronica Nigh said the projections spell good news for farmers and ranchers. "USDA is projecting another banner year for U.S. ag exports ...

China failed to reach the Phase One Agreement commitments to purchase U.S. goods and services, including agricultural commodities. The U.S. Trade Representative's office revealed the data in a more than 70-page report this week. "The reality is that this Agreement did not meaningfully address the more fundamental concerns that the United States has with China's state-led, non-market policie

According to the USDA, 2021 farm and food exports totaled $177 billion, an 18% year-over-year increase, and nearly 15% higher than the previous record set in 2014. “Of course, increased commodity prices and rising global inflation contributed to that," said American Farm Bureau Federation Senior Economist Veronica Nigh. "Ab ...

The Biden administration is looking at the possibility of new tariffs on China if they can’t persuade Beijing to live up to its failed commitments under the Phase One trade deal. Reuters said the administration is looking at other possibilities, including a closer working relationship with allies to present a united front against China. M ...

When it was all said and done, China wound up $16 billion short of achieving its obligations under the Phase One Trade Deal. The Biden administration is looking for ways to keep China buying agricultural products. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack told the House Ag Committee last week that the administration is “putting them on notice that we want them to live up to the agreement.” ...