NGFA issues comment in response to formal fact sheet issued on agreements with China

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 3, 2025 – The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) expressed its appreciation to President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, and other administration officials for their efforts to reopen agricultural trade between the U.S. and China.

“We thank President Trump for his efforts to reopen the Chinese market to U.S. agricultural exports. U.S. farmers and agriculture shippers depend on this key market,” said NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert. “By engaging China and removing barriers to resuming exports to the region, the administration is reaffirming America’s role as a dependable supplier while advancing opportunities for U.S. farmers, agribusinesses, exporters, and the thousands of workers whose jobs depend on open global trade.”

The new framework represents a significant step toward restoring predictability, transparency, and mutual respect in one of the most consequential trade relationships in the world. It follows the administration’s recent announcements of new trade frameworks and agreements with other key partners across the Asia-Pacific region, underscoring a renewed strategic focus on expanding access for U.S. agriculture in fast-growing markets surrounding China. NGFA commends the administration’s efforts to address long-standing barriers that have constrained U.S. exports, while creating a foundation for sustained agricultural and economic growth.

Seyfert also applauded the one-year suspension of trade penalties tied to Chinese shipping vessels.

“Removal of these fees has been a top priority for NGFA since they were first proposed in late February. These port and shipping fees threatened to undermine U.S. competitiveness in the global agriculture trade market and could have limited the impact of new trade deals and frameworks negotiated with countries in Southeast Asia,” he said. “NGFA has worked closely with the administration and legislators on Capitol Hill to express the threat these fees pose. The one-year suspension of the fees is a significant win for U.S. farmers and agriculture exporters, and we will continue working with the Administration to permanently suspend these fees. We must focus on long-term incentives to encourage new U.S. shipbuilding and not fees that will harm U.S. agriculture export competitiveness. NGFA extends sincere thanks to Secretary Rollins, Majority Leader John Thune, House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, Senator Jerry Moran, and Congressmen Tracey Mann and Dusty Johnson for their work to address this risk.”

The U.S. grain, feed, and processing industries rely on stable and open markets to maintain the competitiveness of American agriculture. “When the United States leads on trade, the benefits ripple through the entire economy, from farmers and country elevators to feed manufacturers, exporters, and consumers worldwide,” Seyfert concluded. “We are grateful to President Trump and his administration for their leadership and determination to ensure that U.S. agriculture remains a central pillar of America’s global economic strength.”

NGFA remains committed to advancing policies that expand market access, promote fair competition, and strengthen America’s role as the preferred global supplier of grain, feed, and agricultural products.

-30-