Strain: Trade Barriers Lifted With Japan, Canada & Mexico

The following statement was released Monday by Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. MIke Strain about the US lifting trade barriers with Mexico, Canada and Japen:

“President Trump’s announcements on Friday May 17, 2019 on the agreement with Canada and Mexico to lift tariffs on steel and aluminum with appropriate trade safety mechanisms in place, combined with the lifting of all retaliatory tariffs on American agricultural products and other American goods are huge victories for all of our farmers and citizens. Further, the United States and Japan have also announced they have agreed on new terms and conditions that will eliminate Japan’s longstanding restrictions on U.S. beef exports that have the potential to expand our beef trade by an additional $ 200 million annually.

With Canada and Mexico being our largest agricultural trading partners and opening beef and other markets with Japan, our farming sector will benefit immensely. Worldwide there is a growing shortage and disparity in the availability of protein and other commodities and it is imperative we normalize and stabilize world markets in order to ensure adequate supply for a growing world market.

Additionally, President Trump’s visit to Louisiana on Tuesday May 14 for the grand opening of Sempra Energy’s $10 billion Cameron Parish natural gas export facility marked a pivotal change in U.S. oil and gas policy with the beginning of operation of one of the world’s largest export facilities for liquified natural gas. Louisiana is also home to Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass facility. These plants combined with two more under construction with an additional four facilities in the early stages of design and approval, will place Louisiana at the forefront of America’s natural gas energy sector and provide thousands of direct and indirect jobs. It will also stimulate exploration and extraction of this abundant resource.

The proper utilization of our abundant natural and sustainable resources is vital to our economy and financial well-being. We must continue to lean forward and invest in our technology, infrastructure, and export capabilities and take advantage of every opportunity to expand markets and grow our relationships with our trading partners.

Mike Strain, DVM,Commissioner

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry

(225) 922-1233