USDA wants Canada for a new NAFTA deal but its not not necessary
512 views · Published 27 September 2018 · 2:49 · Indexed 29 September 2026
Channel: RFD-TV · 2018 · Entertainment
September 7th As markets wait on word from US and Canadian negotiators as to whether our northern neighbor will join a new NAFTA agreement, Ag secretary Sonny Perdue outlines what he sees as key issues to be overcome before a deal can be made. RFD-TV’s Sarah Mock has more. The USDA chief wants a new NAFTA deal to include all three partners, but, he says, it’s not absolutely necessary. “It’s just a matter of some tough negotiations over some issues that we’ve been very vocal about all along. The Class 7 milk has to go away, if you want a supply management sector in milk, as they have, we’re simply saying you have to manage the supply and not allow your producers to over producer which reduces the international price that our producers have to compete with.” Perdue says Canada enjoys significant access to US markets, particularly when it comes to dairy, eggs and poultry, which isn’t reciprocated to us producers. He says he’s been in “near constant communication” with US trade representative Robert Lighthizer on these concerns. “Ambassador Lighthizer has been very firm in his resolve to communicate that to Canadians, and we’re down to the issues we though it might come down to at the end of the day, but I think we can resolve this, I think Canada understand that, fundamentally, their Class 7 creation was not in the spirit of NAFTA.” While negotiators continue work on a new deal, officials here at the USDA work to deal with the consequences of these and other trade talks… the roll out of a $6 billion aid package for farmers impacted by tariff, which began monday. Many were unhappy with the difference in support received by various crop sectors, but Perdue says the program fairly compensating farmers for tariff damages, not market volatility. “On the face of it, I can see why corn farmers would ask, why this and why that for soybeans. Yet that was the determined amount of damage when you look at where tariffs were enforced and where we ship corn.” The secretary says his department is committing to transparency with this program, and that farm service agency offices across the country are ready to field questions from producers. “We think it’s going well. Our FSA offices are doing a wonderful job. There’s going to be questions, there’s going to be concerns, and we’ll deal with those as they come up. It’s a big program and there’s training going on. Folks in our department are rising to the occasion.” US farmers are impacted by retaliatory tariffs from both Canada and Mexico, and despite already reaching an agreement with Mexico, there is no reports that the countries expect to remove these barriers. For RFD-TV, I’m Sarah Mock in Washington. Perdue went on to explain that the calculations used to determine tariff damage aid are highly complex, but were carefully calibrated to ensure that us officials could defend the program before the world trade organization if it’s challenged. With Sonny Perdue U.S Secretary Of Agriculture Sarah Mock Washington Bureau Chief, RFD-TV @Sarah_K_Mock
