Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig met with Chief U.S. Ag Trade Negotiator Gregg Doud at last week’s World Pork Expo in Des Moines. They heard concerns from pork producers regarding the recent retaliation against U.S. pork in reaction to steel and aluminum tariffs. Naig says Doud understands the problems producers are dealing with and is committed to resolving the trade dispute going on with Mexico and other trading partners.
He says Iowa’s pork producers and soybean growers both rely heavily on export markets for much of their livelihood.
Naig says to solve tariff and trade problems, it’s critical negotiator complete the NAFTA talks and get a deal finalized.
U.S. pork will not immediately be subject to Mexican tariffs as 350,000 metric tons fall under a quota previously negotiated between the two trading partners.
