News Articles - Trade/Export Policy

Cuba's Market Reform Breeds Food Inflation

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Category: Word from the Ground

Published on Friday, 23 March 2012 10:53

Matching Keywords: trade policy

By Kurt Shultz, USGC Regional Director in Latin America & the Carribbean

Cubans paid almost 20 percent more for food last year as economic reforms, reduced imports and stagnating farm production touched off price inflation according to a Reuters news report. Additionally, Cuba's National Office of Statistics recently published a report claiming meat prices rose 8.7 percent and produce prices were up 24.1 percent for an average of 19.8 percent.

Agricultural reform and increased food production is a top priority for President Raúl Castro since taking over for ailing brother Fidel Castro in 2008. But agricultural output increased only 2 percent last year, after falling 2.5 percent in 2010. At the same time, Raúl has had to cut food imports to reduce spending by a debt-ridden government. Yet because of low farm output, Cuba is importing a budget-busting 60 to 70 percent of the food it consumes. In 2011, Cuba imported 700,000 metric tons (27.6 million bushels) of corn and 110,000 tons of distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) from the United States.

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Council Leadership Team First to Follow Up on FTAs

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Category: News Room

Published on Wednesday, 01 February 2012 18:21

Matching Keywords: free trade agreement, FTA

An elite U.S. Grains Council delegation was the first group to meet with key officials in Panama and Colombia since U.S. passage of the Colombia and Panama free trade agreements (FTA).

USGC Chairman Wendell Shauman, National Corn Growers Association Chairman Bart Schott, were accompanied by Council staff, Floyd Gaibler, director of trade policy, Chris Corry, director of international operations, and Kirk Shultz, regional director in Latin America.

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Fallout Continues from FTA Delays

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Category: News Room

Published on Friday, 18 November 2011 15:01

Matching Keywords: FTA

While the United States has finally approved the Colombia, Panama and South Korea free trade agreements (FTAs), the long delay in achieving U.S. ratification continues to produce fallout.

In South Korea, critics say the pact could threaten South Korea’s national interests, and opposition party members are attempting to block a vote in the parliament. Opposition is coming from South Korea’s auto industry and farmers, who fear a flood of U.S. farm exports.

South Korea’s president said he will seek to renegotiate a provision that gives foreign investors the right to have international arbitrators hear a dispute in South Korea, and he has made a rare trip to parliament this week to argue for a vote.

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USGC Pleased with Administration’s Submission of Trade Agreements

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Category: News Room

Published on Tuesday, 04 October 2011 12:03

Matching Keywords: free trade agreement

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 4, 2011 – The U.S. Grains Council applauds the U.S. Administration in its renewed push for the passage of three pending bilateral trade agreements, including Colombia, Korea and Panama.

“We are encouraged by the Administration’s submission of the long-standing free trade agreements (FTAs) for ratification by Congress,” said Dr. Wendell Shauman, USGC chairman and Illinois corn farmer. “Passage of these agreements will help to immediately level the playing field and allow organizations like the Council to aggressively re-engage with our international partners and win back lost market share.”

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