The Republican National Convention wraps up tonight with Donald Trump’s acceptance speech, which comes amid some continued uncertainty about who will be running against him in November. The big question is what tone he will strike in the wake of his assassination attempt.
GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance had a forceful populist message in his acceptance speech Wednesday night. He blasted President Joe Biden for supporting NAFTA and permanent normal trade relations with China, deals Vance said had devastated regions like the one he grew up in. “Joe Biden screwed up and my community paid the price,” Vance said.
The Ohio senator also reiterated his concerns about the impact of immigration on U.S. wages.
Bottom line: Expect China, trade deals and immigration to be staples at Vance’s campaign appearances.
Read our coverage of Vance’s acceptance speech, and other highlights of the RNC at Agri-Pulse.com.
Two potential ag secretaries who were at the Pennsylvania event where Trump narrowly avoided assassination met briefly Wednesday between interviews with Agri-Pulse’s Lydia Johnson: Kip Tom (left), Trump's ambassador to the UN food and ag programs, and Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller.Burgum gives shoutout to rural America
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum touted rural America during an energy-focused speech Wednesday night.
"As all of you know, it's rural America that feeds the world, that fuels the world and defends the world. Small towns with a huge impact. And rural America is Trump country,” Burgum said.
‘Great American Farm Fair’ draws crowd to farm
More than two dozen lawmakers were among several hundred people who made the trek to a farm outside Milwaukee for the Great American Farm Fair on Wednesday afternoon. They included House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., and numerous House Ag members. House Ag Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., and Senate Ag member Roger Marshall, R-Kan., co-hosted the event.
Take note: Marshall flatly said farmers would be better off if a farm bill gets punted to next year. Read our report on that here.
House Ag Committee member Mary Miller, R-Ill., watches during Wednesday evening's official session at the RNC. She is leading the Illinois 65-member Republican delegation. USTR bashes China during trade policy reviewThe U.S. deputy permanent representative to the World Trade Organization told the WTO Wednesday that China runs its non-market economy in a “’predatory’ manner.” The remark came as the WTO conducted a trade policy review of China.
“Because of the size of its economy and the volume of its trade, the [People’s Republic of China] is uniquely positioned to be able to use its state-directed approach to the economy to eliminate foreign competition and amass market power,” David Bisbee said.
Both the U.S. and EU have been highly critical of Chinese subsidies for electric vehicles and a host of other products. President Biden recently quadrupled tariffs on EVs from 25% to 100%, and the EU is considering a permanent tariff of up to 38%.
“Across most industries, Beijing’s state-directed approach to the economy often results in excess capacity and overproduction, leading to a flood of low-priced exports,” Bisbee said.
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Take note: A report released by WTO leadership Wednesday said the organization couldn’t determine the precise level of China’s support for domestic industries, including aluminum, electric vehicles, glass, shipbuilding, semiconductors, or steel.
Hemp group receives grant to boost building materials made from crops
EPA has named 38 grant recipients that total nearly $160 million for projects that aim to track and reduce climate pollution in construction materials. The Hemp Building Institute received over $6 million to develop environmental product declarations and lifecycle assessments for biogenic materials that can be used in construction like hemp, soy and strawbale.
A goal of the project is to create a set of protocols, tools and training that could increase the adoption of biogenic building materials from agricultural crops, according to the project summary.
Funding for the awards come from the Inflation Reduction Act and will support the Biden administration’s Federal Buy Clean Initiative, which aims to increase demand for clean construction materials used in federal buildings, highways and infrastructure projects.
Biofuel group warns EPA of lawsuit over RFS deadline
The Clean Fuels Alliance America has warned EPA it plans to sue the agency if it doesn’t issue a proposal soon for renewable volume obligations for 2026. The group represents producers of biodiesel and renewable diesel.
In its recent semiannual regulatory agenda, EPA indicated it would propose the RVO rule next March, a sign that EPA will “miss the upcoming statutory deadline” of Oct. 31 for setting 2026 standards, said Kurt Kovarik, vice president of federal affairs, in a letter to EPA. The final rule is scheduled to come out next December.
"While EPA can and should reconsider and revise its 2024 and 2025 volumes, it should at a minimum set a timely 2026 volume,” Kovarik said in the letter. "Doing so is imperative to get the program back on track by setting a robust volume that can achieve Congress’s desire to “overcome the constraints in the market by creating demand pressure to increase consumption of renewable fuels.”
If the agency does not issue a proposed rule within 60 days of the notice, Kovarik said CFAA “reserves its right to sue for relief."
Rebekah Alvey, Philip Brasher and Noah Wicks contributed to today’s Daybreak
