Trade

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When it comes to forging trade alliances around the globe, the European Union is moving at seemingly breakneck speed. The 28-country bloc is securing new and expanded markets in Asia, South America and North America at a time when the U.S. seems to be in neutral or even reverse.

Negotiations to rewrite the North American Free Trade Agreement entered a sixth round this week amid widespread concerns that without substantial progress, the 24-year-old pact among the U.S., Mexico and Canada could come to an end .

A possible merger between grain giants Archer Daniels Midland and Bunge would allow the companies to lower their costs by consolidating operations, but also would reduce competition in the ag marketplace, potentially hurting farmers already suffering from low commodity prices.

Brazil’s soybean exports to China are expected to continue to grow this year with no sign of slowing.

With the next round of talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade agreement set to begin in Montreal this month, President Trump is telling America’s farmers and ranchers that he is dedicated to completing a new deal.

U.S. and South Korean negotiators met all day last Friday in an effort to save the free trade agreement that unites the two countries. On the sidelines, the U.S. agriculture sector is desperately hoping the negotiators succeed so farmers and ranchers here can continue shipping more and more meat and grain to the Asian country.