USDA

“Ensure that as you advance U.S. interests, domestic agricultural producers are not subjected to retaliatory tariffs, which has happened in the past.”

Japan's plan to trigger a frozen beef import safeguard -- which would bump tariffs on U.S. imports from 38.5 percent to 50 percent -- has alarmed Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and the U.S. beef industry.

“Cotinued access on the terms that were negotiated in the KORUS is essential to the future health of the U.S. beef industry.”

Poultry is “often part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, and our farmers would very much like to be able to offer their products during that time.”

The United States and China announced Thursday that a final phytosanitary protocol -- over a decade in the making -- has been signed, allowing the U.S. to export rice to China provided certain requirements are met.

Conaway: “agriculture needs to keep its foot on the gas to ensure their interests are known and reflected in the agreement.”

A Thursday Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on the Farm Bill and its agricultural export promotion programs turned into a platform for senators and members of the agricultural industry to voice their concerns over a slew of trade issues including the NAFTA renegotiation, the Commerce Department's Section 232 steel investigation and the status of U.S. competitiveness in the Asia-Pacific.

“Consider the consequences to the rest of the U.S. economy and avoid igniting a trade war through new restrictions on steel or aluminum trade.”

Perdue will ceremonially cut a Nebraska Prime rib and participate in a cooking demonstration to celebrate the first U.S. beef exports to China in 13 years.