News

Vietnam Fumigation Requirements

NAEGA is working closely with industry and government stakeholders, including the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS), the Grain Inspectors, Packers and Stockyards Association (GIPSA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), regarding new information on pre-shipment fumigation requirements for corn, wheat and DDGS. As of December 1, 2016 Vietnamese Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) will require methyl bromide fumigation for all shipments of these commodities into the country. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in a temporary suspension of trade.

In light of these new requirements, NAEGA is working to gather more information and develop and industry and government response. NAEGA will host a call on Friday, October 21 at 10 AM Eastern Time with industry and government stakeholders to share information and develop a communication strategy with PPQ. All NAEGA members are invited to join the call by using the following call in information:

Call in number: 1-404-920-6650

Conference Code: 245335

If you would like more information, or to participate in the Friday conference call on Vietnamese fumigation requirements, please contact Gary or Ryan.

Publication of Cuban Asset Control Regulations

Last week the White House, the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) and the Commerce Department released updated regulations further opening up U.S. economic and diplomatic relations with Cuba. As part of this package, OFAC and the Commerce Department have updated their Cuba Asset Control Regulations (CACR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to open up U.S. further open up U.S. economic relations with Cuba in infrastructure, shipping and contingent contracting. In addition, through a presidential directive, the president has directed U.S. executive agencies to further policies that increase economic and diplomatic relations with the Cuban government within the restrictions still in place due to the embargo.

A copy of the proposed regulations, which will be submitted into the Federal Register on October 17, is available below:

            Commerce Department EAR Regulations

           OFAC CACR Regulations

In addition, a copy of the Presidential Directive to executive agencies can be found here. For more information on NAEGA efforts to advance U.S. economic ties with Cuba through the U.S. Agricultural Coalition for Cuba, please click here.

ASA-NAEGA-NOPA Comments to NTE

NAEGA is seeking member input into their annual comments to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on the National Trade Estimate (NTE) report on Foreign Trade Barriers. The NTE set out an inventory of the most important foreign barriers affecting U.S. exports of goods and services, U.S. foreign direct investment, and protection of intellectual property rights. The inventory facilitates U.S. negotiations aimed at reducing or eliminating these barriers.

A copy of the request for comments in the Federal Register is available here. Comments are due to USTR by October 27.

NAEGA members who are interested in providing comments on foreign trade barriers should contact Ryan or Gary.

Vietnam Fumigation Call – October 21

All NAEGA members are invited to attend a call with industry and government stakeholders, including APHIS, USDA FAS and GIPSA, regarding a response to Vietnam’s recently announced requirement for methyl bromide fumigation for wheat, corn and DDGS.

The call will take place on Friday, October 21 at 10am Eastern Time. Those interested in joining the call should dial in at the information below.

Call in number: 1-404-920-6650

Conference Code: 245335

For more information please contact Gary or Ryan.

IGTC Meetings and General Assembly – November 8-10

All NAEGA members are invited to attend two exciting International Grain Trade Coalition (IGTC) meetings happening in Geneva, Switzerland on November 8.You can register for both events by clicking here.

IGTC Strategy Session
November 8 – 8:00am-12:30pm
Location: Cargill International SA, Chemin De-Normandie, 14, Geneva
Click here for an agenda

IGTC General Assembly
November 8 – 1:00-3:00pm
Location: Cargill International SA, Chemin De-Normandie, 14, Geneva
Click here for an agenda

These meetings are timed to coincide with the Global Grains Geneva Conference which will take place on November 8-10.

For more information on the Strategy Session and General Assembly, or if you would like to contribute a proposal for IGTC action, please contact the Acting IGTC Secretariat Katy Lee.

IGTC WTO Event

NAEGA President and CEO Gary Martin, who is also president of the International Grain Trade Coaliton (IGTC) will travel to Brussels, Belgium on November 10 for a meeting of the International Plant Protection Convention’s (IPPC) ePytho Industry Advisory Group (IAG). A copy of the IPPC’s ePhyto IAG agenda is available here. A copy of the Notice to Post for this travel can be found here.

For more information, please contact Gary or Ryan.

NAFTA TWG – Quebec City – October 25-26

NAEGA President and CEO Gary Martin will travel to Quebec City, Canada on October 25 and 26 to participate in a meeting of the North American Free Trade Agreement’s (NAFTA) Technical Working Group (TWG) on Pesticides. During the meeting Gary will present before the TWG on the business realities of trading grain and the impacts that non-tariff barriers like missing or non-harmonized minimum residue limits (MRLs) can pose. The NAFTA TWG on Pesticides is mulitalteral working group comprised of the governments of Mexico, Canada and the United States that seeks to address pesticide issues that arise from the liberalization of trade between the three countries under the NAFTA agreement.

A notice to post for this upcoming travel can be found here. A copy of Gary’s presentation l will be available soon. For more information, please contact Gary or Ryan.

Hanjin Bankruptcy Letter

On September 20, 2016 NAEGA joined a multi-industry letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker from organizations representing manufacturers, farmers and agribusiness wholesalers, retailers, importers, exporters, distributors and transportation and logistics providers regarding the recent decision by the Hanjin Shipping Company to seek bankruptcy protection. The recent bankruptcy filing by Hanjin Shipping has already begun to disrupt supply chains and freight shipments leading up to the busiest shipping time of the year. U.S. industry relies on a high level of predictability and efficiency in global supply chains. Seizure of Hanjin assets and shipper’s goods by Hanjin creditors is increasing anxiety among those that rely on these supply chains. In addition, critical cargoes remain stranded overseas as freight prices continue to rise. This letter to Secretary Pritzker calls for continued engagement with the South Korean government regarding these events in order to secure an economically beneficial resolution that will allow cargo to once again flow efficiently through the supply chain.

A copy of the letter can be found here. For more information, please contact Gary or Ryan.

Joint Statement to GIPSA

On September 23 the Joint NAEGA-NGFA Grades and Inspections/Grains, Grades and Weights Committee submitted a joint statement to the Grain Inspectors, Packers and Stockyards Association regarding the delegated state status of the State of Wisconsin. States delegated by (GIPSA) to preform weighing and inspection services are required to meet certain criteria including maintaining adequate facilities and qualified personnel; rotating personnel; implementing training requirements and diligently using of user fees. In addition, these requirements are to be reviewed through a notice-and-comment review every five years. The joint statement confirms NAEGA and NGFA’s belief that the State of Wisconsin is meeting its obligation to remain a delegated state under GIPSA rules.

A copy of the letter can be found here. For more information, please contact Ryan or Gary.

President Obama Nominate Cuban Ambassador

President Obama has nominated the highest ranking U.S. Diplomat in Cuba as the first U.S. Ambassador in more than a half century following increased efforts over the past two years to improve diplomatic and business ties with the island nation. Jeffrey DeLaurentis, the U.S. charge d’affairs and head of the U.S. mission in Havana since 2014, will now seek confirmation before the Senate, a body that still has deep reservations about the administration’s Cuba policy.

A copy of President Obama’s press release can be found here. To learn more about NAEGA’s involvement in promoting increased commercial ties with Cuba through the U.S. Agricultural Coalition for Cuba (USACC), please click here.