Agency would require rail customers to file individual cases to obtain relief By Randy Gordon, President and CEO The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Oct. 7 issued a proposal under which it would issue broad policy principles and guidance, rather than formal rules and determinations, to address Class I railroads’ demurrage and accessorial practices and charges. The STB’s 25-page proposal contains principles on seven broad topics concerning demurrage and accessorial practices and charges that the agency said it “expects” will “facilitate more effective private negotiations and ... Read More
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Trump signs first stage of U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement
By Max Fisher, Director of Economics and Government Relations, and Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media, President Donald Trump on Oct. 7 signed the first stage of a U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement that will lower agricultural tariffs in Japan and industrial tariffs in the United States, as well as provide rules for digital trade. After Japan’s legislature ratifies the agreement, it is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2020. But the deal does not address autos, which have been a significant point of contention during negotiations, and the two countries still ... Read More
NGFA commends signing of U.S.-Japan trade deal
ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 7, 2019 -- National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) President and CEO Randy Gordon issued the following statement after President Trump on Oct. 7 signed the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement:“NGFA commends the United States and Japan for consummating, effective Jan. 1, a stage one trade agreement that will preserve significant market access for U.S. agricultural products, including wheat and wheat products, pork and beef. Japan represents America’s third largest agricultural market, and this agreement was essential so that U.S. agricultural products were not put at a ... Read More
Discover organic and hemp markets at #CEC19
Learn more about organics, hemp and the innovation related to these growing market opportunities during the 48th annual Country Elevator Conference and Trade Show (CEC). “Unconventional” crops like organic grain and hemp are gaining a significant foothold in the American landscape and innovators are responding to serve these growing markets. Geoff Finch, president of Groff North America’s Heplex Division, and Eric Jackson, CEO of Pipeline Foods, will broadly walk CEC attendees through their organic and hemp businesses, highlighting new opportunities presented by these ... Read More
WTO downgrades trade growth forecasts
World Trade Organization (WTO) economists have downgraded their forecasts for trade growth in 2019 and 2020 given escalating trade tensions and a slowing global economy, according to an Oct. 1 WTO press release. Export and import growth slowed across all regions and at all levels of development in the first half of 2019, WTO said. World merchandise trade volumes now are expected to increase by only 1.2 percent in 2019, substantially slower than the 2.6 percent growth forecast in April. The projected increase in 2020 now is 2.7 percent, down from 3 percent previously. The economists said ... Read More
China buying soybeans, wheat ahead of trade talks
China is buying more U.S. agricultural commodities ahead of the next round of trade talks scheduled to begin Oct. 10 in Washington. Chinese buyers purchased more than 1.5 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans last week, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and have purchased at least 716,000 tons this week. USDA also reported on Oct. 3 that China bought 130,000 metric tons of U.S. white wheat – the first large purchase of the grain since China implemented a 25 percent tariff on U.S. wheat last year. President Trump has planned tariff hikes on Chinese goods ... Read More
FSPCA announces new training course for FDA animal food rule
By David Fairfield, Senior Vice President of Feed The Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) on Oct. 1 announced the availability of an online training course that focuses specifically on the current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) requirements established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) final rule for Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals. The course is applicable to facilities required to comply with CGMP regulations for animal food, and provides a detailed review and explanation for ... Read More
FDA launches food safety dashboard to track FSMA progress
By David Fairfield, Senior Vice President of Feed The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Sept. 30 launched a food safety dashboard designed to track the impact of the seven foundational rules established under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). For each of the major FSMA rules, FDA has identified measures intended to assist the agency in evaluating how well the rules are being implemented and identifying areas for improvement. FDA states this data will help the agency identify trends in food safety, implement a risk-informed planning and resource allocation framework, and ... Read More
New NGFA Trade Rules amendments enacted Oct. 5
By Charlie Delacruz, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Following approval by the NGFA Board of Directors during its September meeting, four sets of amendments to the NGFA Trade Rules took effect on Oct. 5. These include changes and clarifications related to electronic transmission of bills of lading, the definition and scope of what commodities are included as “grain,” and what is intended by the term “execution” in the context of services performed by brokers, as well as an extensive set of changes and additions related to the transportation of grain and feed ... Read More
U.S. announces tariffs on EU agricultural goods
By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media The Trump administration this week announced it will impose retaliatory tariffs on European agricultural products, among other items, starting this month. The decision comes after the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Oct. 2 granted the United States permission to tax as much as $7.5 billion of European exports annually to retaliate for European subsidies to the plane manufacturer Airbus. Starting Oct. 18, the United States will impose 25 percent duties on European dairy products, pork, wine, certain fruits and many other ... Read More
National Grain and Feed Association
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