Trade
USDA outlines protocols and a $25 million sterile fly investment as feedlots, cow-calf producers and cattle groups weigh in on what a phased restart of Mexican cattle trade means for the market.
The reopening of the U.S.-Mexico border on Aug. 24 is expected to have a short-term impact on cattle markets, but analysts say the return of Mexican feeder cattle will not fundamentally change long-term supply.
Former US Trade Representative Bob Lighthizer says Mexico, not Canada, will be the biggest test in USMCA talks, citing trade deficits. That’s as agriculture leaders push to protect billions in North American trade.
USDA to open the Douglas, Ariz., port first to restart U.S.-Mexico cattle trade after more than a year of New World screwworm-driven closures — if Mexico adheres to the Joint Action Plan.
The question facing U.S. agriculture is whether current farm aid is a bridge through temporary hardship — or a pier toward more structural government support.
At the Iowa Economic Summit, former USTR Bob Lighthizer warned farmers that China’s soy and meat buying is a short-term play, urging producers to “take off the rose-colored glasses” regarding long-term export risk.
The U.S. lets the 16-year USMCA extension deadline pass, opting for rolling annual talks. Experts break down what this means for “predictability” and the leverage needed for disputes.
The move will start a six-year review period as the U.S. pushes for stricter automotive content rules in negotiations with Mexico.
Commodity markets are waiting for one key answer: Does the U.S. really have a deal with China? With only a $17 billion figure and few details, traders want proof through tariffs, export sales and purchases.
After more than a year of waiting, China granted 5-year registration extensions to 425 U.S. beef plants and added new approvals. The move follows Trump–Xi talks in China this week, signaling a trade breakthrough.
Rising input costs and geopolitical tensions drive growing pessimism among ag economists, though views differ on how the industry is being reshaped, according to the latest Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor.
A new reciprocal trade agreement with Ecuador is set to transform a minimal market into a promising opportunity for U.S. beef and pork producers.
Ambassador Julie Callahan outlines a transactional approach to global trade, targeting market access and regulatory reform
Halstrom says strong global demand is driven by the unique marbling and rich taste of U.S. corn-fed beef, giving it a premium edge in global markets, even in countries that once focused on lower-cost protein.
In a major decision, the Supreme Court rules President Trump exceeded his authority by imposing tariffs using national emergency laws.
New trade agreement with Taiwan eliminates barriers and expands market access for U.S. beef and pork exports.
In 2026, imports decide how painful the grind gets, exports decide whether the carcass pencils, and policy decides how fast everything can change.
The proclamation authorizes an 80,000 metric ton increase in in-quota lean beef trimmings imports in 2026. Economists say retail beef prices are unlikely to drop without impacting producers.
USDA Undersecretary Luke Lindberg says the big takeaway is establishing a level playing field for U.S. producers and building opportunities from there.
The December Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor shows the farm economy will likely stay strained into 2026. As crops face tight margins, biofuels policy — especially E15 and biomass-based diesel — could influence recovery.
2026 will have USDA’s trade team in Indonesia, Philippines, Turkey, Australia and New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam
U.S. agricultural exporters depend on the binding nature of USMCA provisions to access its closest markets and make sales, lawmakers wrote in a letter to Ambassador Greer.
The change reverses part of a July trade action that had imposed elevated import duties on multiple categories of Brazilian goods and is the latest effort by the Trump administration to bring grocery prices down.
Customers crave the quality and consistency of U.S. pork, beef and lamb. That is helping the industry overcome market challenges, explained USMEF’s Dan Halstrom at the USMEF Conference in Indianapolis.
Oklahoma State’s Derrell Peel says the beef industry needs time — not politics or policy — to solve beef supply and demand realities.
USMCA has been a boon for the American meat, livestock and poultry sector, along with the broader American food and agriculture economy and ancillary industries, The Meat Institute says in comments to the USTR.
On Wednesday, Secretary Rollins announced a plan for American ranchers and consumers as Trump posted comments on social media regarding tariff impact on beef prices.