U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Representative Al Lawson (D-FL) led bipartisan members of the Florida congressional delegation to petition U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to initiate a Section 301 investigation of fruit and vegetable imports from Mexico and to secure trade relief for Florida growers. “The Biden Administration has affirmed its intention to protect and reinvigorate critical supply chains …
Rubio, Colleagues Petition USTR to Protect Florida Producers from Unfair Trade Practices
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Representative Al Lawson (D-FL) led bipartisan members of the Florida congressional delegation to petition U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to initiate a Section 301 investigation of fruit and vegetable imports from Mexico and to secure trade relief for Florida growers. …
U.S. Ag Trade: Imports in FY 2023 at $197 Billion
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service and Foreign Agricultural Service Situation and Outlook Report notes that agricultural (Ag) imports in fiscal year (FY) 2023 are projected to increase $5.0 billion above the FY 2022 forecast to $197 billion. This is mostly due to higher imports of horticultural products, sugar, tropical products, along with grains and feed products. Total …
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
A changing landscape in agriculture calls for policy reform. By Zhengfei Guan and Kuan-Ming Huang The United States has been the largest agricultural exporter in the world and has had surplus in agricultural trade for decades. In 2019, however, the United States saw a deficit (-$1.3 billion) for the first time in over half a century since data were available. …
Senator Ossoff Assures Pecan Growers Indian Tariffs a Top Priority
By Clint Thompson Senator Jon Ossoff’s (D-GA) visit to South Georgia a month ago yielded positive dialogue with the state’s pecan growers and industry leaders. One of the concerns that the Georgia Pecan Growers Association voiced was the high tariffs that India has imposed on U.S. pecans. A month later, Ossoff assures producers that reducing or eliminating those tariffs is …
UGA Expert’s Senate Testimony Calls for Predictable, Equitable Trade Policies
By Jordan Powers When visualizing the daily life of farmers, we often think of green fields, hardworking families and harvest time. Often missing from the picture of the modern American farmer is his daily concern with fuel and fertilizer prices, crop yields and trade issues. On June 9, Gopinath “Gopi” Munisamy, distinguished professor of agricultural marketing and interim head of …
Commissioner Fried Submits Testimony to U.S. Senate Ag Committee on Unfair Trade
Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried submitted written testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade, urging Congress to address unfair foreign trade practices causing decades-long harm to Florida farmers and the lack of protections for the domestic seasonal produce industry. “Our state’s fruit and vegetable farming …
Ag Hearing Highlights Need to Address Trade Barriers, Impacting Georgia Farmers
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) called on his Senate colleagues on Thursday to quickly consider and confirm nominees for two agricultural trade leadership positions within the administration to address trade concerns and reduce trade barriers faced by Georgia farmers. Senator Warnock’s call for action came during the first hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry’s Subcommittee on …
Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management and Trade
Sen. Warnock’s Prepared Opening Statement for Today’s Hearing The Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management and Trade will hold a hearing today at 11 a.m. U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock (GA) chairs the subcommittee. He prepared an opening statement: “Today’s hearing, titled ‘Agricultural Trade: Priorities and Issues Facing America’s Farmers,’ is an opportunity for members of this Subcommittee to hear …
Fresh Vegetable Trade Volume Up in 2021
Fresh vegetable trade volume was up in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. The United States remained a net importer of fresh-market vegetables in volume and value terms. The value of imports increased 5% to $10.4 billion, while the value of exports increased 3% to $2.4 billion. Import value grew 81% over the past decade, …