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.