YOUR TEXAS AGRICULTURE MINUTE

An opening on trade?

By Gene Hall
Publisher

After months of bad news on a market-crippling trade war, farmers and ranchers are getting some good news.

President Trump and the Chinese leadership have sketched the beginnings of a deal.

There is progress on intellectual property and a Chinese promise of purchasing U.S. agricultural commodities. Much remains to be worked out, but after months of tariffs and retaliation, the two sides are talking again.

A few days ago, an agreement was reached on a U.S.-Japan bilateral deal. That means tariffs on many agricultural products will be rolled back. They include beef, pork, poultry, cheese, grains, nuts, berries and others.

Finally, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement–USMCA–is moving toward completion with bipartisan support. It’s the old NAFTA. In normal trading circumstances, Mexico and Canada are our second and third largest trading partners, behind China.

The preceding commentary is brought to you by Texas Farm Bureau, the “Voice of Texas Agriculture.” Called “Your Texas Agriculture Minute,” TFB will issue thought-provoking editorials each week—via print and audio—to spark understanding of agriculture in the Lone Star State and its impact on each and every Texan.

You may read this week’s editorial above or listen to the audio version.

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