The U.S. Department of Agriculture has put out it’s 2019 trade mission agenda. The agency intends to have visits to Taiwan, Canada, Colombia, Vietnam, Kenya, Mexico and the United Kingdom. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall says that’s very positive because USDA is working closely with the White House and Trade Representatives Office to focus on developing new markets as well as expanding existing ones.

He says the United Kingdom is one of the most critical markets the U.S. needs to hone in on as there will be several countries vying for market access into that country.

Woodall says Congress must ratify the USMCA trade pact and having missions slated for both Canada and Mexico is helpful.

USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney says the markets that were selected for 2019 trade missions were carefully chosen as ones that offer the best prospects for sales of U.S farm and food products.