Trade

By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media After delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. and United Kingdom (UK) formally launched trade deal negotiations on May 5 in an effort to solidify a new partnership between the two economies as the UK exits the European Union. UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer held a video conference call Tuesday to begin a two-week round of negotiations, which will be conducted virtually in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Further rounds will be conducted roughly every ... Read More

By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced April 24 that the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will enter into force on July 1, two years after signing by the three trade partners. The United States was the last country to certify that it has completed the required domestic procedures for the accord to go into effect. Mexico and Canada sent their notifications earlier this month. “The crisis and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates that now, more than ever, the United States should strive to ... Read More

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced March 31 it will provide coverage for exports under sight letters of credit (LC) without refinancing under the Commodity Credit Corporation’s (CCC) Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102). USDA said the coverage is in response to requests by U.S. stakeholders to increase flexibility in the program to support U.S. agricultural exports. GSM-102 Details from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS): Typically, GSM-102 payment guarantees cover credit terms of up to 18 months, with repayment terms negotiated between the importer’s and exporter’s ... Read More

By Max Fisher, Vice President of Economics and Government Relations [A broad overview from a grain, feed and export perspective of the U.S.-China Phase One trade deal was included in the Jan. 17, 2020, edition of the NGFA Newsletter. Each week, the NGFA Newsletter is spotlighting individual components of the trade deal. This week’s focus is on China’s agricultural biotechnology approval process. View other “In Focus” articles on NGFA’s trade issues page.] As part of the U.S.-China Phase One trade agreement, the parties agreed to carry out exchanges and take steps to enhance engagement ... Read More

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on March 24 announced the latest updates on implementation of the agriculture-related provisions of the U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement. Both countries signed a regionalization agreement that, in the event of a detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza or virulent Newcastle disease in a particular region of the United States, will allow U.S. poultry exports to China from unaffected regions of the country to continue (APHIS Regionalization Protocol Announcement).  ... Read More

The Canadian Parliament officially approved the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on March 13, allowing the three countries to begin implementing the agreed-upon standards for trade. The Canadian Parliament ratified the USMCA before taking a five-week break in response to coronavirus concerns.  “Now that the USMCA has been approved by all three countries, an historic new chapter for North American trade has begun,” U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a press release.  “This landmark achievement would not be possible without President Trump’s leadership and ... Read More

China has started making policy changes and announcing tariff exclusions for imports of U.S. agricultural products as part of its commitments under the “Phase One” trade agreement with the United States, the Trump administration said in an update issued Feb. 25. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer issued a joint statement outlining ways China has begun implementing its agriculture-related commitments under the agreement, which entered into force on Feb. 14. Perdue and Lighthizer said China has taken the following actions: Lifting the ... Read More

China announced Feb. 6 that it would cut in half its previously implemented additional tariffs on an estimated $75 billion worth of U.S. imports, following the signing of a Phase One trade deal between two nations. “To ease economic and trade tensions and expand cooperation, the Chinese side decided to adjust related measures accordingly,” according to China’s Ministry of Finance. “It is our hope that both sides will work together toward ultimately removing all additional tariffs.” China’s announcement – to be implemented Feb. 14 – will affect tariffs levied against 1,717 U.S. goods last ... Read More

President Donald Trump on Jan. 29 signed the implementing language for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) into law, leaving Canadian ratification as the last hurdle for the pact that would reduce nontariff barriers for agricultural goods between the three North American countries. USMCA passed overwhelmingly in the Senate on Jan. 16 by a bipartisan vote of 89-10, following the House’s 385-41 bipartisan vote in December. “The USMCA is the largest, most significant, modern, and balanced trade agreement in history. All of our countries will benefit greatly,” Trump said in an official ... Read More

In his role as the president pro tempore of the Senate, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in a ceremony on Jan. 22, officially sending the trade legislation to President Donald Trump for his signature. There are reports the president plans to sign the accord at a Jan. 29 White House ceremony. Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Pat Roberts, R-Kan.; Rob Portman, R-Ohio; Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; John Hoeven, R-N.D.; Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; and Martha McSally, R-Ariz., joined Grassley as he signed the legislation.  “After three years, we’ve seen some ... Read More