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Opening the trade door for U.S. ag

An ag lobbyist says he’s optimistic the new trade tariffs open the door for U.S. agriculture to have greater market access.

“The president and his trade team are trying to shake up the global trading system. It’s not going to happen overnight and it will be unsettling.”

Last week, President Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on more than 50 countries. Randy Russell says countries like Japan and Vietnam have already reached out to the United States with an interest in negotiating trade deals.

But he says leveling the playing field is more than addressing tariffs.

“Equally as important are the regimes they put in place to keep our products out of the market.”

Russell says China and India are two countries that have non-tariff trade barriers in place for ag products.

But before new trade deals can be negotiated, Russell says the Trump administration must have the right team in place and key officials for ag still need to be confirmed.

Russell says USDA’s Under Secretary of Trade Nominee Luke Lindberg is expected to get a Senate confirmation hearing at the end of April, but the Trump administration still hasn’t named a nominee for Chief Ag Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.