Latest News From Trade

An upcoming webinar from the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas aims to help U.S. importers of Mexican tomatoes to better understand the implications of a potential termination to the 2019 suspension agreement.

After recent tariff lifts on apples, walnuts and almonds, India has slashed tariffs for additional U.S. exports, including include blueberries and cranberries, signaling increased opportunities for American producers.

The leaders also drafted a proposed legislation earlier this month that promises treaty-like benefits for businesses seeking cross-border investment opportunities via the tax code.

"Change happens, growth is optional," said CPMA President Ron Lemaire in urging the Canadian fresh produce industry to find growth and opportunities where others see setbacks.

“When Ukraine fails, in terms of their ability to produce agricultural products, the world becomes less safe,” says Howard Buffett, global philanthropist and Illinois farmer.

Several people were honored and their personalities celebrated as industry leaders prepared to advocate for potato-focused policies with legislators during the National Potato Council Washington Summit.

The hybrid conference seeks to impart thought-provoking advancements and updates from the USDA’s 29 agencies, with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack leading the event.

USDA trade projections through 2032 call for U.S. ag exports to decline at an annual rate averaging 0.7% per year, ending at $182.2 billion in 2032.

U.S. agricultural exports reached $196 billion, with sales in seven agricultural export markets setting records, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Reps. Dusty Johnson and Jim Costa on Tuesday introduced the Safer Highways and Increased Performance for Interstate Trucking (SHIP IT) Act to expand the trucking workforce and offer flexibility in times of need.

The Strengthening Organic Enforcement Final Rule, filed unofficially by the USDA on Jan. 18, represents the biggest update in the program’s history and bolsters organic integrity according to industry leaders.

The organic enforcement final rule is expected to publish Jan. 18, the USDA has confirmed with The Packer, which separately met with Jonathan Veley of the USDA to discuss organic produce.

If the nation’s debt hits $31.4 trillion—it’s on track to do so by this Thurs.—the Treasury will need to take “extraordinary measures” to help pay the government's operations and ward off a historic default.

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Alexis Taylor for Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. According to Taylor, her priorities include addressing export markets and food insecurity.

Despite pressure from Congress and from stakeholders in U.S. agriculture, the Biden administration has refused calls to include tariff reduction in its major trade initiative, says Adam Hollowell of Bryant Christie Inc.

Florida tomato growers were not pleased by the decision of U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to reject a petition trade law calling for Tai’s office to protect Florida growers from unfair trade practices.

U.S. fresh produce imports showed big value increases for berries, avocados, grapes and citrus for the 12-month period from September 2021 through August 2022.

After five years of negotiations, Colombia celebrates the arrival of the first shipment of bell peppers to the U.S.

Have the Pacific Coast port bottleneck issues been resolved, or moved somewhere else? The East Coast may now be carrying the burden.

Empty dinner plates can quickly translate to lack of world peace. Just ask Sen. Ernst, who gave a political rundown of food security as national security at Iowa State University last week.

“Friend shoring means that, rather than just bringing everything [manufacturing] back to the U.S., which is feasible, let’s make sure our supply chains are with countries that are friendly to us,” Heidelberg says.

Do tariffs fuel inflation? John Phipps's Customer Support segment explains why economists have struggled to come up with estimates of economic effects due to lingering COVID influence on world business.

U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh remained optimistic about contract negotiations between workers and shipping companies for some of the country’s most important ports, even as talks extend past a previous deadline.

President Biden says he has not made a decision yet on whether to lift some of the $370 billion of tariffs imposed on Chinese imports by the Trump Administration.

Estimates of when new routes will be regular shipping lanes keep advancing. It looks like the long-awaited transpolar shipping route could be a real thing around 2050. John Phipps explains why and the possible impact

The U.S.-China trade war began in July 2018 when the Trump administration imposed tariffs on $550 billion worth of Chinese goods. Nearly four years later, the debate remains as to which country actually won.

The commodity markets came under pressure to start the week as traders tried to shed risk over shipping concerns in China as COVID-19 concerns caused officials to shut down transportation amid a two-pronged lockdown.

UPDATE: 03/02 4:23 pm-EST-There are reports a missile struck a vessel flying under the flag of Bangladesh in Ukraine.

Expect Russia's invasion of Ukraine to dominate the State of the Union address tonight. As for issues affecting agriculture, there may be few details offered, says USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

"This is my plea, from a humble farmer in Ukraine to the people of the world: Please ask your governments to stop this reckless war, launched by that cruel and power-hungry authoritarian, Vladimir Putin."

U.S. imports of fruits jumped 15% in 2021, while trade numbers show U.S. exports of both fresh fruits and vegetables scored modest gains of 4%

Rep. Garamendi says the USDA partnership with the Port of Oakland “isn’t going to solve the problem” because shippers deliver product to the U.S. and leave ports with empty containers.

China is the kingpin customer of U.S. ag commodities while openly attempting to destroy America’s position atop the global ladder. Does the odd paradox portend feast or famine for U.S. farmers?

The U.S. and European Union reached an agreement in late October to allow the resumption of duty-free European steel and aluminum into the U.S.

As backlogs at U.S. ports and climbing shipping rates plague the supply chain, new data shows container shipping rates between the U.S and China are dropping by more than 50% in  just a month. 

The playing field for U.S. fruit growers and other businesses exporting to China remains titled against them, President Biden believes.

A virtual working meeting is expected before year's end between President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Hurricane Ida packed a punch of 150 mph winds this weekend, crippling grain shipping facilities in a key export area along the lower Mississippi River. Now it's a question of how long export activity could be shuttered.

Port of Oakland first half 2021 total cargo volume increased 11.4 percent over 2020 and forecasters envision no letup.

Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Rick Scott, R-Fla. re-introduced legislation to help Florida fruit and vegetable growers combat unfair trade practices “by countries like Mexico,” according to a news release.

A 17-year conflict over aircraft subsidies is coming to a temporary close as the U.S. and European Union have agreed to a truce, and it could spill over into a positive move for certain U.S. agricultural goods. 

The U.S will target China with a new "strike force" to combat unfair trade practices, as the administration rolled out findings of a review of U.S. access to critical products, from semiconductors to EV batteries.

Florida lawmakers are urging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to work with members of Congress to implement immediate trade relief measures for U.S. producers of seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables.

The strong but sometimes tenuous U.S.-Mexico trade relationship was the focal point of an April 21 session of the Fresh Produce Association’s virtual Spring Policy Summit.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility intercepted a load of alleged methamphetamine worth $4,343,000 being smuggled in a commercial shipment of fresh produce.

The 2020 value of U.S. fresh fruit and vegetable exports declined slightly, a new U.S. Department of Agriculture analysis shows.

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas will hold its virtual Spring Policy Summit from April 21-23.

Projections through 2030 for U.S. fruit and vegetable production and trade call for slight increases in domestic output but stronger increases in fresh produce imports.

COVID-19 didn’t slow U.S. imports of fresh vegetables in 2020. In fact, the pandemic may have fueled demand.

The value of U.S. imports of fresh fruit showed mixed trends in 2020, with citrus, mangoes, kiwifruit and berries up big but avocados, apples and melons off by double digits.