News

Vietnam Fumigation Proposal

Over the past few month NAEGA has been working closely with industry and the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to develop a phytosanitary protocol for exports of DDGs, wheat and corn in bulk and containers to Vietnam. APHIS has now released draft fumigation plans for containers and bulk cargoes that were shared with Vietnam’s Plant Protection Department (PPD) last week. APHIS is optimistic that PPD will soon be deferring to APHIS phyto-sanitary certifications for imports of the U.S. origin products based on these protocols. When PPD approves these documents, APHIS is confident that an APHIS phyto will be sufficient for import into Vietnam.

The draft documents include:

Please let Gary or Ryan know if you have any comments on these documents.

Decree 177

NAEGA continues to stand-by to support industry and answer any questions regarding continued U.S. government and industry efforts to ensure compliance with China’s Decree 177. As part of this support, please refer to the following document containing a detailed background on NAEGA efforts to date. The background is drawn from NAEGA Outreach reporting over the last 18 months.

Risk Based Sampling Symposium

A trip report is now available for NAEGA Senior Advisor Arvid Hawk’s travel to Baltimore and Arlington, VA to attend the Risk Based Sampling Symposium on June 25-30. In Baltimore, Arvid attended and reported back on the RBS symposium, which sought to educate industry and regulators on risk-based sampling methods that provide a consistent and reliable measure of action rates for commodities, approach rates for pests, and infestation rates for shipments. Arvid is NAEGA Senior Advisor specializing in sampling and meeting product specifications. He attended and gathered information in order to advance understanding of RBS applications to GRNOS.

Following his attendance at the RBS Symposium, Mr. Hawk traveled on to Arlington, VA to brief NAEGA staff and discuss his work plan for the remainder of 2017.

IPPC IAG Meeting

A trip report is now available for IGTC Secretariat Katy Lee’s travel to Arlington, VA to advance NAEGA and IGTC efforts regarding the utilization of information technology to improve security, predictability and efficiency in the international movement of grain. Between June 26 and 28 Katy traveled to Arlington participate in:

  • International Plant Protection Convention’s (IPPC) ePhyto Hub Industry Advisory Group: On June 27, NAEGA-hosted a meeting at NAEGA’s Arlington, VA headquarters of the IPPC’s EPhyto Hub Industry Advisory Group (IAG). The advisory group met at the request of IPPC Secretary Jingyuan Xia and was attended by six global trade flows and five national government representatives. Ms. Lee organized and attended as a representative of the IGTC.
  • Meeting of the ePhyto Pproject Industry Advisory Group with representatives of Embassies and Consulates in Washington, D.C.: On June 28 Ms. Lee coordinated with IPPC and the Canadian Embassy meetings on the progress of the project, the impact on GRNOS and NAEGA UES accomplishments related to trading documentation technologies.

Geneva IGTC Meetings

A trip report is now available for travel to Geneva on June 20-24 for Gary Martin, President and CEO of NAEGA and President of the IGTC. In Geneva, Gary joined Katy, Secretariat of the International Grain Trade Coalition (IGTC), for a series of meetings to support NAEGA 2017 and 2018 UES objectives largely executed via the IGTC. In particular, Gary held meetings to report on and receive recommendations for IGTC actions to address facilitation of trade with China, to consider parameters for the establishment of new commercial and official practices related to information management and implementation of regulations and to explore options for modification of the IGTC business plan. During his time in Geneva, Gary and Katy met with IGTC members and corporate stakeholders to update them on the implementation of the IGTC Business Plan and recent developments in IGTC policy filed.

IGC MCC Meeting – London, UK – September 8

On Friday, September 8 Katy Lee, Secretariat of the International Grain Trade Coalition (IGTC) will travel to London to attend and participate in the International Grain’s Council’s (IGC) Market Conditions Committee (MCC) meeting. During the meeting Katy will be presenting before the MCC on Current Developments in Policy and Practice as part of the IGTC’s continued and regular engagement with the IGC.

A copy of the IGC MCC agenda can be found here.

U.S.-China AQSIQ Survey Team – Mid-West – September 10-20

On September 10-20 NAEGA Senior Advisor Kirk Miller will join a group of China AQSIQ officials for a survey tour of grain supply chain facilities in the Mid-West. The trip is meant to educate AQSIQ officials on the U.S. export supply chain and the fungible, comingled nature of U.S. grain and oilseed exports as part of U.S. government and industry efforts to comply with Decree 177 facility registration requirements. During their travel, the team will be visiting facilities along the Mid-West, Mississippi River and Gulf Coast in Kansas City, St. Louis, Memphis and New Orleans.  The trip will conclude with a briefing in Washington, D.C.

 

The current itinerary for this travel is available here.

IMO CCC – London, UK – September 11-15

On September 11-15 Katy Lee, Secretariat of the IGTC, will travel to London, UK to participate in the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Subcommittee on the Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC). In London, Katy will be working closely with the International Dry Bulk Terminals Association, to monitor and respond to developments impacting the global grain and oilseed trade. A notice to post for this travel will be available shortly.

A copy of the IMO CCC agenda can be found here.

NAFTA negotiations begin

On Wednesday, August 16 the first round of negotations for the North American Free Trade Agreement begin at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C. Negotiations opened with briefs statements by Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Trade Representative, Crystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Canadian Chief Negotiator, and Ildefonso Guajardo, Mexican Secretary of Economy and Chief Negotiator. The first negotiating round is expected to conclude on August 16 and negotiations are expected to continue through at least the early part of 2018.