Trade

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

It's been said the dairy industry in trouble as consumer tastes change.  Is that true, and what does that mean the future for the dairy sector?   If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@to...

The White House announced actions intended to hold Russia accountable for invading Ukraine.  U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said as part of that effort, President Biden announced additional tariff increases on a variety of goods from Russia worth approximately $2.8 bi...

According to a recent analysis by U.S. Wheat Associates, since the highs of 2021, freight prices have dropped to lows not seen since June 2020.  Coupled with a recent break in wheat prices, decreased ocean freight costs have helped turn the tides back in the importers' favor.   ...

He says it all adds up.  When a specific U.S. food or farm commodity gains or expands access overseas, and that’s repeated several times over, the needle begins to move for the American Ag sector.  That according to Doug McKalip, Chief Ag negotiator at USTR.  He said they were able ...

Idaho potato growers are hopeful 2023 will be much improved over last year for a variety of reasons.  Jamey Higham, Executive Director of the Idaho Potato Commission said producers faced a number of difficult challenges last year.  One of the more interesting one occurred late in the year, when rumors started the Idaho potato growers ran out of spuds.  Higham said despi...

In today's Focus On Fruit, Mark Powers looks back on the pros and cons of 2022.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com 

The USDA is out with the final Ag trade numbers from December, closing the books on 2022.  USDA’s Bart Kenner said December was a record December for exports $17 billion worth of sales.  He said that puts calendar year 2022 export sales at a record high $196 billion beating 2021's record by $20 billion, but he noted, “most of the gains in exports came from unit value increases from higher prices a

The United States has requested a second dispute settlement panel within USMCA.  At issue, Canada's dairy tariff rate quotas.   "We bring the case our findings and our documentation to the panel," noted Doug McKalip, chief Ag negotiator at USTR.  "The way these th...

Doug McKalip, the new agriculture trade boss in the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office, has given Mexico until Tuesday, February 14th, to explain the science behind the country’s planned ban on GMO corn imports.  Market Screener said the response will help the agency decide the next steps to resolve the long-running disagreement over Mexico’s biotechnology policies when it comes to agriculture.  T