An updated, modernized version of the U.S.-Canada Grain Trade Resources website in now available at https://uscanadagraintrade.org/. This website, initially launched in 2012 during the implementation of Canada’s Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act, is now updated and modernized to reflect the impact of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, as well as other developments, on the cross-border grain trade between the U.S and Canada. The site contains question and answer modules for American and Canadian grain producers, as well as the Commercial Grain Trade and will be updated regularly. Users are encouraged to review the modules and submit additional questions, which may be included in future updates.
NAEGA has launched a U.N. Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) Document Library. The library was developed with a unique trade policy lens to review documents, declarations and outcomes related to the 2021 UNFSS. There are two “Collections”, the first with resources directly linked to the UNFSS, and the second with background pre-UNFSS resources. The library is operationalized by Agriculture Dialogues International (ADI) and is for the use of NAEGA members and invited guest users only. If you would like more information, please contact NAEGA staff.
NAEGA members are invited to login to the redesigned NAEGA public and Member’s Only website at www.NAEGA.org. You should be able to use your existing credentials to access the Member’s Only site. If you do not have a login, please contact Patrick at phayden@naega.org.
We plan to spotlight NAEGA members on both the public and Member’s Only site. If you are interested in providing material of any kind for the website, please let us know. Your feedback on is appreciated as we refine this new platform to help up Work Together to Make Trade Work!
NAEGA has confirmed a date and location for our 2019 Tokyo Contract & Best Practices Seminar. The Seminar, which will be followed by a reception, will take place at the TKP Shinbashi Conference Center in Tokyo, Japan on November 22, 2019. We would like to thank our colleagues at the Japan Feed Trade Association (JFTA) for their assistance in securing a venue and agreeing to partner with us for the Seminar again this year. NAEGA President & CEO Gary Martin, Director of Operations Patrick Hayden and Senior Advisors Sam Bonilla and Andrew Marting are currently scheduled to attend. Invitations will be sent out soon. Mark your calendars now and we look forward to seeing you in Tokyo!
NAEGA is saddened to report that Tom Medd, former member of the NAEGA Contracts Committee, passed away on August 10. A veteran of the Vietnam War, Tom worked in the grain industry for over 45 years, starting as manager of the family-owned Norway Spur Grain Company in Oakes, ND and retiring as Senior Vice President of Corporate Risk Management at CHS, Inc. After retirement, Tom continued to work in the industry as a NAEGA arbitration panelist. His family has asked that any memorials be donated to St. John in the Wilderness Church in White Bear Lake, MN or North Oaks Children’s Hospital Guild II.
NAEGA offers its condolences to Tom’s family.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced that a new 10 percent import duty on cellphones, laptops and many other consumers goods made in China will be delayed until December 15, 2019 instead of taking effect on September 1 as originally planned.
The delayed items, which also include video game consoles, toys, computer monitors and footwear and clothing account for more than half of the $300 billion worth of Chinese imports that are part of the latest round of U.S. tariffs. U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the reason for the delay was to avoid punishing U.S. consumers before the winter holiday shopping season. Items that will still face a 10 percent tariff on September include beef, pork and other food and agricultural items.
The NAEGA Special Interest Group (SIG) on the Peru’s self-initiation of a countervailing duty case against U.S. origin yellow corn case received an update on the case on Friday, August 16. U.S. Grains Council (USGC) counsel Deen Kaplan provided the SIG with a discussion of recent developments. USGC will coordinate the next call for Wednesday, August 28, which will feature an update from U.S. government.
NAEGA is coordinating the Special Interest Group (SIG) in order to facilitate a coordinated industry response. If you are interested in joining the SIG, please contact Gary or Patrick.
On August 15, 2019, NAEGA and other industry partners received an update on discussions with Vietnam on the Canadian Thistle issue for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Earlier this year, Vietnam’s Plant Protection Department (PPD) began enforcing a zero tolerance for Canadian Thistle seeds, causing most U.S. exporters to stop pursuing soybean and wheat contracts with Vietnam due of the risk of Canadian Thistle detection. NAEGA and other industry partners have urged the U.S. government to work with Vietnam’s PPD to find a solution that allows for U.S. industry to alleviate PPD’s concerns. USTR briefed industry on developments on the Canadian Thistle issues and other discussion with Vietnam.
NAEGA has responded to written questions from members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, following the July 31, 2019 testimony of NAEGA Grades and Inspection Committee Chair Nick Friant at a hearing on “Perspectives on Reauthorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Act”. The questions, and answers, will be submitted into the official record of the hearing and can be found here.
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) will hold it’s 2019 Fall Symposium at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. OFAC’s annual symposium provides a comprehensive review of OFAC and current U.S. economic sanctions. The event includes presentations on OFAC regulations as well as targeted reviews of sanctions concerns for new and updated OFAC programs. In addition to formal presentations, OFAC staff will be available throughout the day to answer questions on issues unique to a number of regulated industries.
An agenda and registration information is available here.
North American Export Grain Association
1400 Crystal Drive, Suite 260
Arlington, VA 22202
Telephone: 202-682-4030
Fax: 202-682-4033
Email: info@naega.org