USTR

The USDA and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative are accepting applications for new members to serve on the agricultural trade advisory committees.  The Agricultural Trade Policy Advisory Committee is comprised of senior representatives from across the U.S. a...

The USDA is forecasting a record farm trade deficit next year, which raises the specter of an earlier debate and questions over the administration’s policy not to do free trade agreements.  The $42.5 billion farm trade deficit, if realized, again raises the issue of the administration rejecting market-opening free trade deals.   “...

The Biden administration recently proposed tariff increases on goods entering the country from China.  The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will make its final determination later this month.   In May, the administration announced plans to raise Section 301 tariff rates on select goods from China, including electric vehicles, solar cells, and semiconductors.  Supply Chain...

Both parties challenged U.S. Trade Ambassador Katherine Tai repeatedly on the administration’s failure to negotiate market-opening free trade deals and even pursuing a ‘go-it-alone’ policy without consulting lawmakers on trade.   “Congres...

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...

Earlier this month, U.S. Trade Representative’s Office requested technical consultations with Mexico regarding its proposed ban on GMO corn imports from the U.S.  The request is under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Chapter of USMCA.  Ag Secretary ...

On Monday, the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office requested technical consultations with the Government of Mexico under USMCA.  The consultations, as part of the USMCA Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Chapter, are aimed at Mexico’s ban on genetically modified corn.   “The United ...

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 ...

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...

Senate Finance Committee Chair Oregon’s Ron Wyden, and Ranking Member Idaho’s Mike Crapo, are calling for the administration to continue to press for strong enforcement of USMCA.  Thursday’s letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai says such enforcement will ensure American trading partners live up to their obligations.   Crapo and Wyden sa...