Gregg Doud, Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, assured reporters in Washington D.C. that the North American Free Trade Agreement discussions are going well. “There are a lot of conversations being had. We need to get negotiations wrapped up to send a signal to the marketplace. We are going to try to go ahead and move forward.” The USTR is also looking at new bilateral trade agreements, including Japan, Southeast Asia, Africa and the United Kingdom. Doud adds USTR will use every tool necessary to protect farmers against unfair trade practices, including China’s tariffs. However, transparency with China is a challenge. “How are you supposed to negotiate with a country if you don’t have access to the information we need to understand the rules of the game?”
RRFN’s Farm Bill Focus coverage is sponsored, in part, by the Northern Canola Growers Association.