Trade
The Trump administration announced Friday it is moving forward on slapping tariffs on imported goods for China as the trade fight widens.
After a record performance in 2017, U.S. pork exports to Central America, South America and the Dominican Republic have continued to gain momentum this year.
April pork export volume was 230,049 metric tons (mt), up 13% from a year ago and topping the previous high set in November 2016.
Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue is vocal the Trump administration is leaning towards potentially drifting away from the trilateral North American Free Trade Agreement and heading toward two separate bilateral agreements.
News outlets reporting China proposed to buy roughly $70 billion worth of U.S. ag and energy products if the US lifts its tariffs. However, some in the administration say the number is flawed.
Mexico’s chief NAFTA negotiator and Canada’s top agricultural official say their countries remain committed to completing the North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiations.
It is beginning to look like the most severe part of the fear-based reaction to tariffs is easing, as negotiators for the U.S. and Mexico near a new deal. But you can’t just stop trade without hurt on all sides.
Included in the tariff relief package was additional support for the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program.
While Colombia’s domestic pork production has been steadily growing in recent years, it cannot keep with the rapid growth in consumption - which creates excellent opportunities for the U.S. industry.
USMEF opened its annual conference with a status report on the current state of U.S. beef, pork and lamb exports, followed by a discussion of trade policy issues shaping the outlook for exports in 2019 and beyond.
The U.S. and Phillippines have made good progress on several key trade issues of specific interest to the U.S. red meat industry.
After recent seminar with Mexican meat industry officials, USMEF says education of inspectors is key to keeping meat trade open with Mexico.
August pork export volume was down 1% from last year at 182,372 mt, while export value fell 3% to $494.1 million.
USDA reports live hog prices in January and February averaged below $40 for the first time in over a decade, says Chris Hurt, Purdue University.
The U.S. is well positioned to help fill any additional need that China has for pork, said Joe Schuele, U.S. Meat Export Federation, “but we’d be in a lot better position if we weren’t facing a tariff that’s five times higher than everybody else.”
African swine fever has now spread to all parts of China.
For several weeks, farmers have been debating amongst each other the virtue of taking a Market Facilitation Program payment.
Trump abruptly escalated his trade war with China
USDA on Thursday provided more details on the 2019 Market Facilitation Program. We compiled answers to frequently asked questions.
Pork exports in May were steady with last year’s pace, while value increased 1% to $567.8 million – the highest monthly value total since April 2018.
At the Latin American Product Showcase, more than 60 USMEF exporting member companies participated, displaying and promoting U.S. beef, pork and lamb products. The event attracted more than 190 buyers from 23 countries.
Taiwan is a rapidly growing market for U.S. pork and beef—
Food, agricultural and allied industry groups yesterday urged the parties involved in a labor dispute that’s affecting food exports that ship out of West Coast ports to resolve their differences as soon as possible.
“The safeguard trigger is obviously not good,” says Gerardo Rodriguez, USMEF regional marketing director. “But this is a result of more interest in finding U.S. pork in Panama.”
The U.S. is well positioned to help fill any additional need that China has for pork, said Joe Schuele, U.S. Meat Export Federation, “but we’d be in a lot better position if we weren’t facing a tariff that’s five times higher than everybody else.”
More than 125 pork producers participated in the Spring Legislative Fly-in to talk trade issues with state and national leaders. Four central priorities remain to get the pork industry free access to foreign markets.
USDA reports live hog prices in January and February averaged below $40 for the first time in over a decade, says Chris Hurt, Purdue University.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross downplayed expectations for an end to U.S.-China trade war when both sides meet in Washington next week.
China continues to deal with an outbreak of African Swine Fever while U.S. agriculture makes preparations to keep it out of the country.
Ask National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) Vice President and Counsel Nick Giordano about the impact of the Trump administration’s tariffs on U.S. pork and his response is pointed and simple: “ouch!”