A Waverly, Iowa corn grower says he would like to see a free trade agreement established between the United States and Viet Nam, along with many other Pacific nations. Mark Mueller is a member and director of the Iowa Corn Growers Association. He recently traveled to Viet Nam and Philippines on a trade team delegation with Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig and other Iowa commodity and farm group leaders. Mueller says Viet Nam is a growing economy with young consumers, but because of tariffs, the United States can’t compete on an even scale with exporting goods to Viet Nam.
Mueller speaks more about the trade inequities due to the tariffs placed on U-S commodities and agricultural goods.
Mueller says ethanol, dried distillers grain, and meat all have good opportunities for a growing market in Viet Nam. He heard Viet Nam grain buyers tell of “cold grain” which ultimately also hurts U-S corn trade to the region.
Mueller says he has spoken to elected officials from both political parties about the benefits of entering a free trade agreement with Asian nations.
