Special Report

AFBF Economist says don’t overlook positive trade news

The American Farm Bureau Economist says it’s important farmers not overlook the positive international trade news out there. Brownfield interviewed Veronica Nigh at the NAFB convention in Kansas City.

“It gets a bit lost about how big of a deal the Japan deal is going to be. That’s a positive news story, making up some ground that we are actually losing to other competitors.”

Nigh says it’s good news that China said it’s considering lifting non-tariff barriers on U.S. poultry, essentially creating a new market.

“We’ve been out of China for over a decade because of high-path Avian Influenza and as they’re looking at diversifying their protein sources – both on the pork side looking at imports from other sources around the world but also looking at trying to grow demand for poultry – that’s a big deal!”

Nigh says the constant back and forth with the U.S. and China, the ups and downs, are a normal part of trade deal negotiations and farmers shouldn’t lose heart.