A Senate Ag Committee Hearing last week called Perspectives on U.S. Agricultural Trade was held. Both the National Association of Wheat Growers and U.S. Wheat Associates were pleased with the meeting. Steve Mercer of U.S. Wheat Associates says both the Administration and Congress have prioritized new trade deals as a priority. He says one of the newest prospective markets for wheat is South Africa.
He says the South Africans are very interested in U.S. wheat and like its high quality.
Mercer says even though they’re interested in U.S. wheat, there are some hurdles in that South Africa produces quite a bit of its own wheat. He also says the Trade Promotion package as part of the Trade Aid Mitigation program from USDA is positive even though there’s competition involved there.
Mercer says his group and NAWG also are looking forward to final approval of the renegotiated deal with Mexico that maintains duty free access to its wheat market.
