U.S.-China Trade Talks: “Great Progress,” Yet “Some Way to Go.”
Late last week, Los Angeles Times writer Don Lee reported that, "Despite hopes that a U.S.-China trade deal is at hand, President Trump said Thursday that some key issues have…
U.S. Soybean Exports to China Increased in February; Trade Negotiations Return to Washington, D.C.
A recent news article reported that Chinese imports of U.S. soybeans increased in February, contributing to a narrowing of the trade deficit between the two countries. Nonetheless, the imports were…
U.S., China Trade Talks Persist, While Flooding Compounds Stress on the Ag Economy
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are scheduled to travel to China next week to start a new round of face-to-face trade talks. As the negotiations continue,…
U.S., China Trade Deal Cannot Be Taken for Granted
In testimony last week before the Senate Finance Committee, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer displayed a more cautious tone in describing U.S., China trade negotiations. Meanwhile, recent news items provided…
China Purchases U.S. Soybeans and Sorghum, As Trade Talks Face Hurdles
Last week, China purchased U.S. soybean and sorghum exports. Nonetheless, farmers remained concerned about a trade resolution between the U.S. and China as more melancholy reports emerge about progress in…
U.S., China Trade: Progress Reported as Secretary Pompeo Visits Iowa
News articles this week reported that a trade deal between the U.S. and China could be close. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo provided additional trade perspective while visiting Iowa on…
President Trump Asks China to Lift Agricultural Tariffs
On Friday, Bloomberg writers Joshua Gallu and Millie Munshi reported that, "President Donald Trump said he has asked China to immediately remove all tariffs on U.S. agriculture, including beef and…
At House Ag Committee, Secretary Perdue Addresses the State of the Rural Economy
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue testified on Wednesday before the House Agriculture Committee at a hearing titled, "The State of the Rural Economy." Lawmakers explored a variety of issues in…
China Commits to Buy Additional U.S. Soybeans, March 1st Tariff Increases Delayed
U.S., China trade talks resumed last week in Washington, D.C., and extended into the weekend. As the negotiations unfolded, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue indicated that China committed to buy an…
U.S., China Trade Talks in Washington this Week
After continuing last week in Beijing, U.S., China trade talks will resume again this week in Washington, D.C. In addition, recent news items continue to highlight impacts of the ongoing…
U.S., China Trade Talks Continue as the Farm Economy Shows Signs of Strain
China purchased more U.S. soybeans last week as trade negotiations between the two countries are set to continue this week in Beijing. Meanwhile, a front page article in the Wall…
Ag Trade Issues: EU and China
As the U.S. and European Union trade negotiations unfold, the two sides have competing perspectives over what will be discussed: The U.S. has included agriculture in its Summary of Specific…
As China Trade Conflict Persists, President Trump Addresses Farm Bureau Members
As he did last January in Nashville, President Donald Trump addressed the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Convention in New Orleans on Monday. Today's update highlights news reports surrounding the President's appearance…
China Purchases U.S. Soybeans, and U.S.-China Trade Talks Conclude
As trade talks between the U.S. and China kicked off this week in Beijing, news reports pointed out that China "made their third large U.S. soybean purchase in the past…
Soybean Prices Climb as U.S.-China Trade Developments Unfold
A U.S. government delegation will travel to Beijing this week to discuss the ongoing trade war between the two countries. A recent news article noted that optimism associated with the…
Government Shutdown: Impact on Soybean Exports and Trade Mitigation Payments
On the night of Friday, December 21st, the U.S. government began a partial government shutdown. Today's update points to recent news items that highlight how the shutdown may impact information…
Farm Bill Signed, SNAP Proposal Released, and Trade Aid Payments Approved
President Trump signed the Farm Bill into law on Thursday, the same day the executive branch proposed a rule that could impact participation in the SNAP (food stamp) program. And…
Overview: China Purchases U.S. Soybeans
Reuters writer Karl Plume reported last week that, "China on Wednesday made its first major purchases of U.S. soybeans since President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping struck…
U.S. Agricultural Export Data for the First Ten Months of 2018
Last week, USDA released U.S. agricultural export data that spanned the first ten months of 2018. Although the overall value of exports was higher for this time period compared to…
Weekend in Buenos Aires: USMCA Signed, and China Has Agreed to Start Purchasing Ag Products
This weekend in Buenos Aires, President Trump took important trade policy action that could impact U.S. agricultural markets. After signing the USMCA, the president indicated that he would quickly withdraw from…