Policy Articles
U.S. Soybean/Pork Exports Exempted From Tariffs
Published December 6, 2019
The Chinese government is taking steps to exempt some U.S. soybeans and pork from punitive tariffs. The state-run Chinese news agency made that announcement, but the story did not specify the amount of imports that would be exempted. President Donald…Livestock Industry Praises Passage of U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement
Published December 4, 2019
The news that the Japanese Parliament has ratified a trade agreement with the U.S. is being praised by the livestock industry. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane calls it a huge win for U.S. cattle…Japanese Parliament Approves U.S. Trade Agreement
Published December 4, 2019
The Upper House of the Japanese Parliament has approved the trade agreement with the U.S. This paves the way for tariff reductions on over $7 billion of U.S. agricultural products, including beef, pork, nuts, sorghum, sweet corn and others. It…Ag Barometer Index Increases
Published December 4, 2019
The latest Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer found farmer attitudes improved in November. Purdue economist Jim Mintert says farmers felt better about current conditions. "The current condition index was up sharply in November relative to October and that's what pushed…Legal Roundup
Published December 4, 2019
Approximately 50,000 individual lawsuits have been filed, claiming the exposure to glyphosate is linked to non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The EPA and regulatory agencies worldwide have determined glyphosate does not cause cancer, but a study by the International Agency for Research on…Goehring to Address Harvest Woes with Perdue
Published December 4, 2019
North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring will be in Washington, D.C. Tuesday to meet with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. The historic harvest season will be among the issues discussed. "I don't think there is a playbook written for 2019 cropping…Trade Uncertainty Not Great for the Markets
Published December 2, 2019
The U.S. and China are still working on a trade agreement. On Friday, China’s Ministry of Commerce reported the U.S. and China had another phone call to discuss the deal. Total Farm Marketing Senior Market Advisor Brian Doherty says a…China Wants Tariff Rollback
Published December 2, 2019
The Chinese newspaper Global Times is reporting there won’t be a trade deal with the United States unless the U.S. cuts tariffs are cut first. This news story quotes a former Chinese commerce minister, saying China will purchase U.S. farm…Tariffs Restored on Brazilian and Argentine Steel/Aluminum
Published December 2, 2019
President Donald Trump is restoring tariffs on steel and aluminum products from Brazil and Argentina. On Twitter, Trump said those two countries have devalued their currencies, which has hurt farmers and manufacturers. With this move, Trump said these countries will…