Trade

Since being confirmed on Feb. 13, Secretary Rollins has been in the Washington D.C., USDA office for a few hours. Most of her time has been spent visiting farmers, ranchers and ag businesses in Kentucky, Kansas and at Top Producer Summit.

The appointees include representatives from Sunkist Growers, Florida Strawberry Growers Association, National Potato Council, Blue Diamond Growers and more.

These customized levies, expected to be finalized by April, are designed to rebalance trade relationships and target unfair practices, including subsidies, regulations, and exchange rate manipulation.

Apple growers from across the country participated in the U.S. Apple Association’s Capitol Hill Day, meeting with more than 100 legislative offices on trade, labor and farm bill issues.

Trudeau also announced parliament would be prorogued, or suspended, until March 24. That means an election is unlikely before May at the earliest, so Trudeau will remain in charge - at least initially - of dealing with the threat of crippling tariffs once U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.

Canada is preparing for potential trade challenges following Trump’s threat of a 25% tariff on Canadian imports. The Canadian government is considering a proactive approach, including the possible early release of a retaliatory tariff list.

U.S. farmers and various trade groups are very apprehensive about not only the potential negative impacts of tariffs on the U.S. ag sector, but what they do to garner new trade agreements.

China retaliated swiftly on Tuesday with 10% to 15% retaliatory levies impacting $21 billion worth of U.S. agricultural and food products, moving the world’s top two economies a step closer toward an all-out trade war.