working on agricultural trade issues
with the USDA, talked about the
Administration’s Market Access
Program (MAP).
Blue Diamond
has
been a participant in the program for
over 50 years, using the funds granted
to open and expand new markets for
almonds. This year MAP provided $1.9
million for almonds.
FAS also works hard to minimize tariffs
on U.S. agricultural exports. “In China,
for example, we are keeping the lines
of communication open, assuring them
that we in agriculture are different from
other US representatives,” Whitley
explained.
Whitely believes China “is now focused
on what they have to do to end the
trade war with the U.S. The key issue
for them is to stop stealing our stuff.”
Retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural
exports total $12 billion to date,
according to Whitely. “We are
coming up with mitigation measures
that take the form of payments,
purchases, and promotions. These
won’t make you whole but can help. In
the promotions arena, we are looking
for short-term measures that can help
open markets,” he said.
The agency is taking proposals for
the application of these funds and
is expected to announce awards
early 2019.
A powerful tool for opening and
expanding markets is the trade mission
hosted by FAS. “We take American
producers to foreign markets and
partner them with buyers in those
countries,” said Whitley.”
Blue Diamond
recently participated in a trip to Korea
which resulted in a lot of business done
and deals made. We are ramping
up for 2019 to promote agricultural
products in high-potential markets.”
Tell Our Story
Citing “difficult times in California
caused by the trade wars,” President of
the California Farm Bureau Federation
Jamie Johansson stressed the importance
of “telling our story, especially how
important trade is to our industry and
how important agricultural trade is to
the American economy.”
This is especially true in California, he
noted, where the average Californian
does not appreciate the positive impact
local agriculture has on his or her
well-being. “Half of what California
produces has to go into export.
Fourteen percent of manufacturing
activity in California is food related,
and that figure is growing.”
Johansson pointed out that four of the
top 10 metropolitan areas in the U.S.
rated “most affected” by the retaliatory
tariffs are in California: 1-Bakersfield,
2-Fresno, 3-Stockton and 6-Oxnard,
and seven of the top 10 small metro
areas are California: 2-El Centro,
3-Salinas, 5-Visalia, 6-Napa-7-Madera,
8-Hanford. “We must continue to tell
people that story and stay engaged
with our public officials at all levels,”
Johansson urged.
We are working to
get back to business
as usual. American
agriculture is open
for business!
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