EU Clorpyrifos-Methyl MRLs

On October 25, the European Union finalized a decision to reduce the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) of chlorpyrifos-methyl. This decision will severely limit its use in the United States on wheat and sorghum destined for the EU. Under this decision, wheat and sorghum intended for export to the EU may not be treated with chlorpyrifos-methyl after December 5, 2018. However, wheat and sorghum treated with chlorpyrifos-methyl prior to December, 5, 2018 can continue to be imported into the EU. This decision by the EU does not affect grain treated with chlorpyrifos-methyl destined for domestic use or export to CODEX ALIMENTARIUS member countries outside the European Union.

USAEDC Conference

On November 13-15, Ryan traveled to Baltimore, MD to attend the U.S. Agriculture Export Developments Council’s Annual Workshop. USAEDC’s annual workshop brings together USDA cooperators, staff and other U.S. government officials to discuss trends and opportunities for U.S. agriculture exporters. Discussions featured remarks by USDA Chief Trade Counsel Jason Hafemeister and Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Sharon Bomer-Lauritsen, as well as discussions on USDA and cooperator programing and policy.

Value Added Coalition Meeting

On November 19, NAEGA and the National Grain and Feed Association hosted a meeting of the Value-Added Coalition (VAC) at their offices in Arlington, VA. The coalition is a group of supply chain stakeholders with a joint interest in responsible stewardship of production technologies. During this meeting, the coalition met with U.S. government representatives from the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to discuss plant-based biotechnology and plant-breeding innovations, including revisions to Part 340 regulations.

China biosafety officials

On Monday, November 5 NAEGA President and CEO Gary Martin and Director of Operations Ryan Olson met with two Chinese biosafety officials on an exchange program through the U.S. Trade and Development Administration (TDA). During the meeting, Gary and Ryan briefed the Chinese officials on the U.S. and Canadian grain and oilseed export system, including export pathways, fungibility and commercial and official practices. 

UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

On Thursday, November 8 NAEGA Director of Operations Ryan Olson joined Max Fisher of NGFA in a meeting with Ceri Morgan, Global Trade Negotiations, UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Jennifer Groover, Senior Policy Analyst, British Embassy Washington. During the meeting, the group discussed ongoing Brexit negotiations and the upcoming start of U.S.-U.K. trade agreement discussions. Topics included phytosanitary issues, biotechnology regulation post-Brexit, customs and Irish border issues and WTO quota negotiations.

NAPPO Annual Meeting

On October 22-25 NAEGA President and CEO Gary Martin and NAEGA Volunteer Ricardo Calderon travelled to Tucson, Arizona to participate in the North American Plant Protection Organization’s annual convention (NAPPO). Among other items, the conference discussed progress on the IPPC Ephyto solution, new developments in the Trade Facilitation Agreement under the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the new practice related to how precision safeguarding can be utilized to improve the trading environment in North America.  Dealing with unnecessarily trade distortive and precautionary measures being promulgated by phytosanitary officials will also be enhanced by new guidance related to the use of Good Phytosanitary Practice Certification Programs for exporters and International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) number 5 and 11.  Both, for example, may be incorporated into our efforts to provide for much needed changes to U.S. phytosanitary certification for soybeans to China.  The information gathered at the meeting will also help inform our work to implement the USMCA.  A complete trip report and committee consideration will follow soon.

IGTC Newsletter

The latest IGTC newsletter is now available! Highlights include information from the IGTC’s recent meeting with the International Seed Federation (ISF), a presentation from IGTC’s visit to the South African Cereals and Oilseeds Trade Association (SACOTA), and a report from the IGTC’s panel session at the 2018 WTO Public Forum.

Read the full newsletter here.

NAEGA-NGFA Comments to U.S. International Trade Commission

This week NAEGA and the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) submitted a request to testify before the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) regarding the economic impact of the U.S-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In the joint oral statement submitted by NAEGA and NGFA, Randy Gordon, President of NGFA, highlights several provisions of the USMCA that NAEGA and NGFA believe will benefit the future competitiveness and economic growth of the U.S. grain, feed and oilseed processing sectors. These include: preserving or expanding market access; maintaining the dispute system settlement for anti-dumping and countervailing duty cases; and making significant improvements to tackling non-tariff barriers and reduce trade disruptions.  

A copy of the oral testimony can be found here.

IGTC Meeting with the ISF

On October 19-20 Katy Lee, IGTC Secretariat, and Randy Gordon, NAEGA Volunteer, travelled to Berlin, Germany to participate in a meeting between the IGTC and the International Seed Federation (ISF). During the meeting, the IGTC and ISF discussed information sharing on plant breeding innovation for the benefit of the entire agri-food value chain, including consumers. The IGTC provided evidence to demonstrate the importance of advance consultation, open dialogue and exchange of information between entities engaged in developing and implementing gene edited traits in grain production, including grain producers, handlers, exporters and importers, and the food and feed and processing sectors.

A trip report for this meeting will be available in the coming weeks.

Contracts and Best Practices Seminar – Portland

Thank you to all who joined us in Portland, OR for a NAEGA Contracts and Best Practices Seminar on Monday, October 15. During the seminar, participants received an in-depth review of the global contracting and dispute resolution environment, including an update on the new NAEGA 2 Model Contract with NAEGA Senior Advisor Sam Bonilla. The seminar also featured interactive activities including a mock arbitration.

NAEGA will hold its next Contracts and Best Practices Seminar on November 30 in Tokyo, Japan.