Farmers need robust trade pacts, access to markets
By Zippy Duvall America’s farmers and ranchers work hard every day to raise food, fiber and
us either. They are moving ahead with trade agreements, which give them strategic advantages and access to new markets. If we don’t act soon, America’s farmers and ranchers will be left behind. Greater access to international mar- kets could help farmers as inflation and increased supply costs have left many operating on razor-thin margins. The past year has brought unprec- edented inflation in agriculture input costs, from fertilizer to seed to fuel. By expanding access to new markets, we can create more opportunities for farmers and ranchers to sell their products, which can help offset these increased costs. We need the administration to get serious about reducing tariff and nontariff barriers to U.S. agricultural exports. This will require strong lead- ership and a willingness to engage in meaningful negotiations with our trad- ing partners. Ultimately, farmers and ranchers across the country must engage and ad- vocate for stronger trading relationships. We need to ensure that policymakers understand the importance of interna- tional trade and its vital role in support- ing rural communities across America. By working together and speaking up, we can help ensure that America’s farmers and ranchers continue their mission of providing the world with the food, fiber and renewable fuel that we all rely on. (Vincent “Zippy” Duvall, a poultry, cattle and hay producer from Georgia, is president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. This commentary is adapted from the March 22 edition of his column, The Zipline, which is published online at fb.org/viewpoints.)
renewable fuel for families all over the world. We rely on trade agreements and global coopera- tion to get prod- ucts from our fields to tables worldwide. While the past year had
Zippy Duvall
some promising developments in inter- national trade, there are more challeng- es on the horizon. In 2022, the value of our agricultural exports was up, but the amount of prod- uct we exported decreased. Last year was only the second time in the past decade that the U.S. imported more agricultural products than we exported. These statistics are concerning, as they highlight the challenges that our farmers and ranchers face in accessing interna- tional markets. Agricultural trade is critical to our national economy and to the economic sustainability of family farms and ranch- es. But nonscientific trade barriers and tariffs restrict farmers’ ability to compete in global markets. While the pandemic disrupted global trade patterns, the ongoing disputes be- tween the United States and Mexico over genetically modified corn have further complicated the trade landscape. Mexico is an important market for U.S. corn growers with nearly 30% of our corn going to Mexico. Still, at the end of 2020, the country announced it would ban genetical- ly modified or glyphosate-protected corn.
Cargo moves through the Port of Oakland, a key gateway for California farm exports. Expanding access to new export markets could help farms offset increased production costs due to inflation.
Then this February, Mexico updat- ed its decree to state that certain U.S. corn—specifically white corn that is produced with biotechnology—will not be imported. However, yellow corn produced with biotechnology can continue to be imported while Mexico looks for alternatives. This kind of flip-flopping makes it clear that these moves aren’t about science. The science shows that genetically modified crops are not only safe but also critical in helping achieve sus- tainability goals. It is important that biotechnology is recognized as safe, no matter the final use. We should be working together to find solutions that benefit both our countries and that help us deliver safe, sustainable products to customers everywhere.
I am grateful to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai for listening to farmers and initiating the enforcement mechanisms of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to stop Mexico’s ban. By enforcing the agreement, we can ensure that our farmers and ranchers have access to the markets they need to be economically sustainable as well. We rely on robust trade agreements to establish a level playing field for farmers and ranchers and to protect the jobs and businesses that agriculture supports. While we have made progress in some areas of international trade, there is still much work to be done. The lack of any new trade deals during the Biden admin- istration is concerning. Other countries aren’t waiting for
VOL. 50, NO. 13
April 5, 2023
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