Trade

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China continues to be a “difficult and unpredictable market for U.S. agricultural exporters” because it flouts international trade standards set by the World Trade Organization, according to a new report to Congress from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

Officials from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service won’t be inspecting Mexican avocados for export to the U.S. until the agency is confident there are safe working conditions in the state of Michoacán, effectively cutting off exports from the only Mexican state allowed to ship to the U.S.

A crop insurance policy that was supposed to ensure cotton growers could make do without traditional commodity programs never fulfilled its promise after hitting the market in 2015. But amid sky-high market prices and input costs this year, southern farmers say buying the policy is looking more and more like a no-brainer.

Not even the collapse in demand from China could stop the U.S. pork industry from having a good year for exports in 2021 and strong shipments are expected to carry the industry through another banner year in 2022.

Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind., and 65 of his Republican colleagues are urging EPA to take steps to ensure growers can continue to use dicamba in over-the-top applications.

USDA trimmed its forecast for South American soybean production Wednesday, supporting traders’ expectations and a bump in futures prices.

The ag sector and lawmakers aren’t letting up pressure for another trade deal with China, especially since China’s purchase agreement ended Dec. 31, but the Biden administration still has its focus squarely on the “phase one” deal that was struck during the Trump administration.

The U.S. exported $177 billion worth of agricultural commodities in 2021, firmly besting the record in 2014 by about 15% and overshadowing 2020 totals by 18%, according to new data released by the Commerce Department.

The Biden administration is launching the application process for a $1 billion program that will test ways farms of all sizes can profit from the low-carbon commodities they produce through practices that cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The House of Representatives Friday narrowly approved the America COMPETES Act, pushing the legislation that is supposed to make the U.S. more competitive with China closer to enactment. While similar to the Senate version passed last summer, the House bill – passed with a 222-210 vote – includes significant differences such as the inclusion of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act as well as reauthorizes and alters the Trade Adjustment Assistance and Generalized System of Preferences programs.