USDA

American Farm Bureau Federation president Zippy Duvall believes President Trump’s 11th-hour decision not to withdraw from NAFTA was a shrewd negotiating move designed to get Canada and Mexico quickly to the table, adding on Thursday that key advisers surrounding Trump will prevent actions that could jeopardize agricultural interests in the talks.

Senate Agriculture Committee leaders and several industry groups are voicing opposition to the Trump administration's proposed elimination of the Agriculture Department's Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development cooperator program, both of which provide funding to organizations for overseas marketing and promotional activities to boost exports.

Government officials on Thursday heard a range of voices during a hearing called to inform a Commerce Department-led review of bilateral trade deficits, with the services sector and economists blasting the study as too narrow in scope while industry groups argued that deficits are threats that should be urgently addressed.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today will announce the establishment of an under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs position at the Agriculture Department, according to a USDA statement.

The goal is to “reassert the importance of the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program.”

Legislation aimed at diversifying Mexican corn purchases away from the U.S. is intended to send a message that Mexico is not a “punching bag” for U.S. politicians critical of the two countries' trade relationship, according to the Mexican senator who sponsored the measure and is also a candidate in the 2018 presidential race.

Two major dairy groups set up the meetings with Perdue, Vaughn, Ryan and other lawmakers from key committees.

Following Argentinian President Mauricio Macri’s visit to the U.S. last week, domestic citrus producers will meet with members of congress and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative -- among other agencies -- early this week to advocate for a more transparent inspection process in an ongoing dispute over Argentine lemon imports, which President Trump recently said he would consider.

“Our real potential for economic growth is either talking you all into eating more or finding new markets for our products overseas.”