nov-dec-2020

administration would likely focus on enforcement, Juday believes, perhaps banning imports produced with foreign labor, supporting and funding labor organizing, enforcing actions on labor wages and organizing, and enforcing auto/parts rules of origin. There are issues with Canada regarding the dairy products trade that could be addressed. In addition to USMCA, there are unresolved trade issues in Japan, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and India that the incoming administration would inherit. President-elect Biden may seek to punish Brazil over environmental issues. Pushing on these concerns could hinder America’s relationship with Brazil who is a major player in beef, pork, corn, and soybeans. Of particular importance to almonds, are issues within India. Currently negotiations have stalled, the matter of taxes on steel, aluminum and digital services needs to be addressed, and the Trade Promotion Authority expires July 1. President-elect Biden would likely be more engaged with Congress due to his long service there and positive relationship with Senator Mitch McConnell, Juday suggested. There are some policies that will not change with the new incoming administration. “What won’t change is monetary policy. The Fed is locked into an expansive monetary policy and low interest rates. Easy money will continue which is very helpful for trade,” Juday concluded. Emphasis on Bipartisanship Congressman Jimmy Panetta, observing the slim margin held by the Democrats in the House of Representatives, predicted a 2021 legislative agenda that appeals to the interests of moderate members as well as the Democrat base. “We will also consider what type of bills that we can send to the Senate and reasonably expect them to accept and pass,” he said. “People want us to get things done,” Congressman Jimmy Panetta noted. “They are not particularly concerned about political ideology. They just want us to get things done. So, we will need to focus on ways to work together to get things done. We can’t think about hitting home runs. We have to go for base hits, areas that offer good promise of being enacted.” Some promising areas for successful bills include COVID-19 relief, similar to the CARES Act passed last spring — “to keep the economy afloat,” Congressman Jimmy Panetta said. He believes the Problem Solvers Caucus, of which he is a member, would be a good vehicle for accomplishing sound legislation in the upcoming 117th Congress. “Our caucus is made up of 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans. We come up with nonpolitical packages designed to get important work done,” Congressman Jimmy Panetta explained. He hopes to address immigration reform in a way that provides a reliable farm workforce, along the lines of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act that stalled in Congress this year. Congressman Jimmy Panetta will be paying attention to our partners’ compliance with the terms of the USMCA, especially Mexico’s adherence to the labor reforms and environmental cleanup provisions of the Act. “We need to keep good oversight so that we have an equitable trade relationship. That’s very important!” Opportunity for Infrastructure During the panel, Jeff Denham agreed that now is not the time to “swing for the fences” but instead to focus on bipartisan issues such as infrastructure. “Now is the time to redefine our infrastructure system, including not just highways and airports, but also future technologies such as autonomous vehicles, drones, hyperloops, new rail technologies, ports and 5G internet, schools and hospitals,” he suggested. The way to get that done, he said, is to make infrastructure a part of the COVID-19 package, thereby bypassing the back and forth over funding. “That would be a big win for infrastructure and the country while getting people back to work,” Denham said. “If we do that, it could pave the way to resolving issues with tariffs and other trade challenges.” On immigration, Denham observed, “With the border more secure, we will be able to fix problems with H2A, H1B, DACA and the Visa program while overhauling immigration for agriculture. I expect big things to happen, but in a bipartisan way. That is the only way we can accomplish it.” 2 7 N O V E M B E R – D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0