Posts in Trade
Is There Room for Optimism in the Commodity Markets?

“It’s easier to be skeptical.” Is that true? Is it easier to be skeptical of usage estimates and trade agreements, or is it just the more popular thing to do? It’s important to question USDA’s estimates, but it’s also important to question consensus. And if consensus in the current market is skepticism, it might make sense to add optimism to your outlook.

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Tradekristen oaks
USDA Projects $37 Billion Ag Trade Deficit Next Year

The USDA is forecasting that the agricultural trade deficit will shrink in 2026 more than previously anticipated. Agri-Pulse said USDA expects the trade deficit to drop from $43.7 billion in fiscal year 2025 to $37 billion in fiscal year 2026. That’s according to the Quarterly Trade Forecast published last Tuesday.

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Tradedon molino
Meet The 37-Year-Old CEO Who Runs Her Family’s Rice Business And Asked Trump To Double Down On Tariffs

At the White House earlier this month, President Donald Trump joined a roundtable of America’s farmers to announce $12 billion in bailouts. But when Meryl Kennedy, the 37-year-old CEO of her family’s Louisiana rice mill, spoke up to tell him that “the tariffs are working but we need to double down,” he was surprised: “You want more?” Trump asked.

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Trade, USDA, Ricekristen oaks
Latin American Market Measures U.S. Rice Varieties For Quality

The 6th U.S. Rice Quality Symposium, a key part of the annual USA Rice Outlook Conference, was held here last week helping to ensure U.S. rice stays competitive by focusing on quality, innovation, and meeting specific market demands. This year’s event featured 20 rice varieties—many of which demonstrated the cooking characteristics preferred by the Latin American market.

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Rice, Tradedon molino
US Calls India’s Offer ‘Best Ever’ as Tariff Threats & Farm Disputes Strain Trade Talks

United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer told lawmakers in Washington DC that the US has received the “best ever” offer from India. This comes as US negotiators initiated their two-day trade talks in New Delhi on December 10. He added that India has been a "difficult nut to crack," citing New Delhi's opposition to importing American agricultural goods.

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Trade, Ricekristen oaks
U.S. Farmers Say $12 Billion Bailout Won’t End Industry Slump

US growers say the Trump administration’s US$12 billion (S$15.5 billion) aid package brings temporary relief, but is unlikely to kickstart a lasting recovery for the American farm economy.

President Donald Trump on Dec 8 unveiled a package to a key base of support that includes as much as US$11 billion in one-time payments to crop farmers who have been hit hard by his tariff regime and low crop prices. 

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Trade, USDAkristen oaks
Trump Administration Announces $12 Billion Farmer Bridge Payments for American Farmers Impacted by Unfair Market Disruptions

President Donald J. Trump alongside U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (AR), Senator Deb Fischer (NE), Senator John Hoeven (ND), Representative Austin Scott (GA), and farmers from Arkansas, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make $12 billion available in one time bridge payments to American farmers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs that are still impacting farmers following four years of disastrous Biden Administration policies that resulted in record high input prices and zero new trade deals. These bridge payments are intended in part to aid farmers until historic investments from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), including reference prices which are set to increase between 10-21% for major covered commodities such as soybeans, corn, and wheat and will reach eligible farmers on October 1, 2026.

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USDA, Tradekristen oaks