Only an Act of Congress Can Open the Cuban Wheat Market
It is a country that imports about 800,000 metric tons of wheat each year, a mere 90 miles from the United States. Yet the Cuban wheat market has long been a source of optimism and frustration for U.S. wheat farmers. With the change in administrations, there is hope for re-engagement with Cuba, but ultimately the […]
World Trade Organization (WTO) Rules Matter to Farmers and Buyers
By Ben Conner, Partner, DTB Associates The World Trade Organization (WTO) is preparing for its 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Geneva at the end of the year; meanwhile, there is widespread concern that the organization is drifting into irrelevance. But for U.S. farmers, the rules established by the WTO are directly relevant to their work […]
Rail Merger Proposals Should Improve Competition, Hold Down Wheat Shipping Rates
On March 21, 2021, Canadian Pacific (CP) Railways announced a $25 billion plan to merge with Kansas City Southern (KCS), calling it a “transformative” remake of the freight-rail industry. The proposed new railroad would be the first U.S.-Mexico-Canada-linked rail line. Not to be outdone, Canadian National Railway (CN) began talks with KCS in late April, […]
Farm to Fork and the Agricultural Innovation Agenda
By Ben Conner, Partner, DTB Associates, LLP The year 2020 will be known for many things, but one overlooked development that could have far-reaching consequences for global food security and sustainability was the juxtaposition of the European Commission’s Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy and the USDA’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda (AIA) at the beginning of that […]
One Year Later – Phase One Trade Deal with China Producing Results for U.S. Wheat
By Dalton Henry, USW Vice President of Policy Just over a year ago, on Jan. 15, 2020, the U.S.-China “Phase One” agreement was signed, leading to the eventual waiver of China’s retaliatory tariffs against U.S. agricultural products. Those actions opened the door again to the largest wheat consumer in the world after nearly two years […]
USW Report Details Value of Trade Promotion Authority, Free Trade Agreements
By Shelbi Knisley, USW Director of Trade Policy Last week, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) submitted comments to the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) on the importance of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation to U.S. wheat producers. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) describes TPA this way: “Since 1974, Congress has enacted TPA […]
U.S. Wheat Associates Submits Comments on International Trade Barriers to USTR
By Shelbi Knisley, USW Director of Trade Policy Last week U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) submitted comments to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) for the annual National Trade Estimates (NTE) report. The NTE report allows U.S. industry organizations to highlight and comment on trade barriers impacting their trade opportunities to the U.S. […]
Philippines Government Extends Anti-Dumping Duties on Imported Turkish Flour
By Joe Sowers, USW Regional Vice President for Philippines and Korea U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is very pleased that the Tariff Commission of the Republic of the Philippines has extended anti-dumping duties on imports of wheat flour originating and exported from the Republic of Turkey until 2023. The commission’s ruling, announced Sept. 9, 2020, extended […]
USW Transportation Group Supports Proposed Change in Rail Rate Review
By Claire Hutchins, USW Market Analyst U.S. railroads are a crucial part of the most efficient grain supply system in the world. The rail system fulfills an essential logistical function that neither grain handlers nor farmers can perform on their own. Yet rail rates and charges paid by wheat shippers make up a large portion […]
U.S. Contests Chinese Programs that Create Burdensome Wheat Stocks
By Dalton Henry, USW Vice President of Policy The dispute between the Chinese and U.S. government over wheat production subsidies continues. Late last month, the U.S. government officially challenged China’s purported compliance with the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute decision that found China spent billions more on agricultural subsidies than their WTO membership allowed. That […]
