Panama

Why Trump Continues to Talk About Taking Control of Greenland, Panama Canal

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 18:10:33 GMT

President-elect Donald Trump has refused to rule out using military force to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal, citing their importance to American economic and national security.

When a reporter pressed Trump to rule out economic or military coercion to gain control of Greenland and the Panama Canal, Trump said, “I’m not gonna commit to that. No. It might be that you’ll have to do something.” He added: “We need Greenland for national security purposes.”

Trump has long expressed interest in purchasing Greenland, a Danish territory, describing it as “absolutely necessary” for U.S. security. He also raised concerns over the Panama Canal, claiming its current operation by Chinese interests undermines American control of a critical trade route.

Trump took aim at Denmark, threatening the country with high tariffs as part of his push to bring Greenland under U.S. control.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino rebuffed Trump’s remarks, emphasizing their nations’ sovereignty. Greenland, which became self-ruling in 1979, remains staunchly opposed to any sale. Similarly, Mulino declared Panama’s control of the canal “non-negotiable.”

Of Note:
The king of Denmark has changed the royal coat of arms for the first time in more than 500 years to more prominently feature Greenland.

As global competition intensifies in the Arctic and strategic maritime zones, Trump’s comments signal a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy priorities.

Why Trump wants Greenland: Strategic Resources and Geopolitical Ambitions
President-elect Donald Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland reflects its growing strategic importance. Beyond its symbolic value, the world’s largest island offers critical rare earth minerals essential for defense, electronics, and renewable energy. These resources, coupled with Greenland’s Arctic location, present the U.S. an opportunity to counter China’s dominance in rare earth supplies and assert a stronger presence in a region increasingly accessible due to climate change.

Trump’s stance underscores U.S. strategic priorities in the Arctic, including military readiness, resource security, and diminishing reliance on Beijing. Though the idea of acquiring Greenland isn’t new — dating back to U.S. attempts in 1867 and 1946 — Trump’s bold approach reignites debates over Arctic sovereignty, environmental challenges, and international diplomacy.

Trump Proposes Renaming Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America.”
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago. Trump described the proposed name change as “appropriate” and reflective of the U.S. role in the region, claiming, “We do most of the work there, and it’s ours.”

The announcement aligned with a broader critique of the Biden administration’s policies, including offshore drilling regulations. Trump also addressed Mexico’s immigration policies, threatened tariffs on Mexico and Canada, and reiterated past aspirations for U.S. territorial expansion, referencing Greenland and the Panama Canal.

Renaming an international body of water, however, would require consensus among bordering nations, including Mexico and Cuba, making unilateral action by the U.S. improbable. The proposal underscores Trump’s push for assertive rebranding of U.S. influence in the region.

U.S. Pork Trade Value: $61.26 Added to the Value of Each Hog Marketed

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 14:06:27 GMT

Despite what many called a challenging year for U.S. pork exports, at just over $7.6 billion, 2022 was a top-three year for pork export value. This equates to $61.26 added to the value of each hog marketed, explains Courtney Knupp, vice president of international market development for the National Pork Board .

Why is that important? Knupp says 27.5% of U.S. pork production went to international customers last year, adding over $60 to the value of the pig carcass.

“We’re thrilled with those results, and we’re excited to see where 2023 will take us,” Knupp says. “We have a very strong strategy to continue to diversify our markets, have strong presence in those markets on behalf of our producers and staff, and have a big goal to increase and enhance consumption in key regions like Central America and South America.”

Without international markets, today’s pork industry would look very different in the U.S., she adds.

“The international space in the U.S. pork industry provides huge value to our producers. The National Pork Board’s board of directors realizes that and continually funds international market promotion to best place U.S. pork.,” Knupp says.

A Strong Strategy to Grow Exports

An important part of the Pork Board’s international market strategy revolves around investment in a partnership with U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), USDA and the National Pork Producers Council.

Market diversification and carcass utilization will continue to be two key areas of focus in 2023.

“We’re continually targeting and assessing new markets. We see a lot of growing consumption and disposable incomes in regions like Central America. We also have great access there due to the implementation of our free trade agreements in the region,” Knupp says.

In March, Knupp and others will be a part of the U.S. delegation to go to Panama for a USDA ag trade mission. Not only will this allow them to meet directly with customers in the region, but the Pork Board is also conducting a complimentary analysis with one of its partners to best figure out how we go to market there, she says.

“That’s a great example about how we’re always trying to move the needle and establish relationships,” Knupp points out. “Once we’re in market, we’ll move from providing product to a further processing segment to then being able to brand and differentiate U.S. pork in the retail and food service sector, which continues to get more value for the product. We have our eye on that in all major markets, whether we see them as consistent partners, new partners, or ones that we can expand. We’re very optimistic about the opportunities for U.S. pork now and in coming years.”

Chad Groves, senior vice president of sales, marketing and innovation for Seaboard Foods, says market diversification is crucial.

“What doesn’t show up in the numbers, unless you’re close to it, is we’ve moved outside the traditional markets of China, Japan and South Korea. Those three markets have historically carried all of the weight for exports,” Groves says. “What makes me so proud about the industry is they’ve been working over the last few years to develop South and Central America. When those traditional markets were hit hard because of COVID, a strong dollar and other reasons, we were able to quickly pivot and shift product down into Central and South America and Mexico as well.”

He says that’s the power of USMEF, NPPC and the National Pork Board working together to keep profitability up and export markets open whether that’s going to the Eastern Hemisphere or staying in the Western Hemisphere.

^{Bob Ruth traveled with a group of producers and industry leaders in Panama learning about growth opportunities for U.S. pork.}

The Power of the Producer

For Bob Ruth, National Pork Board board member and a Pennsylvania pork producer who recently retired from Clemens Food Group, participating on a trip to evaluate market conditions and opportunities in Panama and Colombia was one of the best decisions he’s made.

“The presence of a pork producer in the market where our customers are at is so very powerful,” Ruth says. “To be able to look that customer right in the eye and explain production practices and things that we do that are very important to those customers is so important.”

Some of those topics include sustainability and the high quality and safety of U.S. pork product, he notes. He also spent a lot of time sharing about the We Care principles U.S. pork producers abide by each and every day.

Animal welfare is prioritized differently around the world, and that’s why Ruth believes it’s absolutely important to engage about in conversation during these trips.

“It’s something we’re on the leading edge of, which makes us a little bit unique,” he says. “That really helps our marketing efforts. The We Care principles are something I credit the Pork Board for coming up with and our producers for embracing. I think it’s a great example of one of the areas that we show leadership in the marketplace.”

Ruth says he takes every opportunity he can to encourage producers to make sure they volunteer for upcoming trips because of that power they have sitting across the table from a customer.

^{(l to r) Chad Groves, Dermot Hayes, Courtney Knupp, David Newman and Kelli Wicks in Singapore learning about the marketplace.}

A Rising Tide Lifts All Ships

Perhaps that’s why Groves is taking off time from his busy schedule to travel to Singapore and Thailand on a trip to learn more about opportunities for U.S pork export growth in these markets.

“This is an industry that’s given so much to me and my family. By being on the board, by participating in these international trips, it allows me to give back to the industry,” says Groves who will be representing pork producers and packers. “A rising tide lifts all ships. We want consumers in each one of those markets to recognize the safety, quality and consistency of U.S. pork in the market.”

The two countries Groves will be visiting are very different in terms of how the U.S. does business in each and how the U.S. exports to each.

“Singapore historically has been open to U.S pork and is a Top 10 per capita consumption country. A lot of times in Southeast Asia, most producers and packers think of Japan, China and South Korea, the traditional powerhouses. But while Singapore has lower population than those countries, the high per capita consumption really makes up the gap and puts them in the top 10.”

When it comes to Thailand, Groves says the U.S. doesn’t have a free trade agreement in place. On the trip, their team plans to focus energy in Thailand working to better understand their needs and build relationships to set the foundation for future opportunities.

“I’m excited to build relationships within both countries and tell the story of the great production, both processes and product that we produce, to tell the story of how U.S pork can be differentiated in the marketplace,” Groves says.

Read More:

Chile: A Demanding Pork Export Market That Knows What It Needs

How Can U.S. Pork Maintain Dominance in Colombia?

Colombia and Chile Offer Untapped Potential for U.S. Pork Industry

Why Options are Important to the Pork Industry

Promising Future for U.S. Pork in Central and South Americas, USMEF Reports

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 19:49:59 GMT

In four years’ time, promotion of U.S. pork by local retailers in the Panama and Columbia markets has greatly improved, says Randy Spronk, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) chair-elect and longtime pork industry leader, upon returning from a recent National Pork Board mission to the area.

In the retail space, Spronk explains the overall presentation of the products has improved since his last visit.

“I’m just going to be honest with you, I thought it was a very poor display of the product,” he recalls, referring to his trip four years ago.

Frozen pork had been sliced, not packaged and in an endcap at the store, he explains. Now, frozen product is sliced, packed in foam trays and wrapped individually, dramatically improving the appeal of the product to local consumers.

“We do see this gradual evolution of the growth of the market and, I think, actually the presentation of our product, as the cold chain matures,” he adds.

USMEF notes as the U.S. pork industry seeks to diversify global demand, Central and South America will be key growth areas.

“We have a tendency to look to Asia and think that’s our only potential for exports, but really, when you look at Central, South America, Latin America, you roll up all those countries, they have the population and the opportunity to be another Mexico,” Spronk notes.

Especially considering market diversification, Central and South American countries offer opportunity to the U.S. pork industry.

“The difficulty is each one of them is an individual country that we have to look at and grow that market. But Colombia and Panama are just two excellent examples of what we can do,” Spronk says.

Colombia has grown immensely in the last 10 years, following the free trade agreement from 2012.

Read More:
How Can U.S. Pork Maintain Dominance in Colombia?

Panama Pork Tariffs: What Will the Impact Be?

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 04:54:21 GMT

In April, a surge of pork exports to Panama triggered a safeguard measure in the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement.

Due to export volume already exceeding 130% of the tariff rate quota (TRQ) included in the agreement, the U.S. Meat Export Federation reports higher tariff rates on U.S. pork were applied April 1 and will remain in effect through the end of this year.

Panama’s 2019 out-of-quota tariff rate for most U.S. pork products is 54.4%, but when the safeguard was triggered, this rate increased to 70%. Lower rates apply to some products and the tariff rate on U.S. pork variety meat remains at zero.

While this higher tariff rate will have negative impact on exports to Panama, says Gerardo Rodriguez, USMEF regional marketing director for Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic, there is still reasons to be optimistic.

“The safeguard trigger is obviously not good,” he explains, “But this is a result of people looking more and more for the product—more interest in finding U.S. pork in Panama.”

While he says the volume of U.S. pork sales might decrease, interest remains high for U.S. premium products.

“We work with a certain niche of people that value what the product is about. And they will keep buying the product. This is not just a commodity market. We’re working to develop the markets that we can provide solutions for value added products,” he adds.

The news of the Panama tariff, while important, have been overshadowed by continuing trade disputes with China and Japan through April and May. The pork industry remains focused to push for free market access to these large markets for U.S. pork.

“Panama’s tariff increase is part of an established trade agreement,” says Rachel Gantz, NPPC director of communications. “While we hope to improve access to what is our 15th largest export market in volume and value, NPPC remains focused on these trade priorities: elimination of metal tariffs that have prompted trade retaliation by two of our largest markets, completion of a trade agreement with Japan and ratification of the USMCA.”