Things are looking up for the Ag sector when it comes to trade.  That’s the belief of Ken Isley, Director of the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service.  During a recent stop in the Tri-Cities, he said he feels that several significant accomplishments on the trade front have been made over the past year.  He said first off, the approval by Congress of USMCA, which he said is much better than it’s predecessor, NAFTA.  And when it comes to China, he feels the trade climate with that vital market has improved and is getting better.

 

“The Phase One agreement, once implemented that provides great opportunities for U.S. agriculture at a whole, not only to restore sales but grow sales, of U.S. Ag products broadly across U.S. geographies and U.S. agriculture products.”

 

Isley said the Administration hopes to start work on Phase Two in the not to distant future, but many don’t expect significant talks to start until after the Presidential Election.

 

Isley added another win for the American farmer is the bilateral trade agreement with Japan.  He added it’s not only good for producers now, but send a clear message to the rest of the world.

 

“It’s a message that the strategy and the policy of the Administration is working in terms of bilaterally discussing issues between the United States and our trading partners like Japan and being able to come to an agreement on a broad set of issues and to come to mutually agreeable terms.”

 

Isley added Southeast Asia is very important for his office moving forward.

 

 

 

 

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com

 

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