MCALLEN, Texas (RFD News) — Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick visited a Texas GE Aerospace facility this week, where he said his agency is working to ensure American agriculture is treated fairly overseas by protecting markets at home and opening markets abroad.
The secretary said American farmers have historically faced non-tariff trade barriers that have limited their ability to sell products overseas.
“All these countries use the details, the red tape to keep our farmers out. They would say you know you can’t serve Maine lobster in the UK, you can’t serve beef even though our cattle are bigger and stronger. As you know our cattle are huge and strong in America, and so the president’s trade agenda has smashed down those barriers.”
Lutnick said some of the trade barriers facing U.S. agriculture can seem unusual, but he believes current policies are creating new export opportunities for American producers.
“You can have a lobster dinner now in the UK, and Europe has taken down their nonsensical rules that don’t allow us to sell our beef in the UK. What you’re going to see is the greatest opportunity for farmers to export. They all have Stockholm Syndrome, they were never allowed. Now for the first time ever they’re going to be allowed to sell their goods around the world.”
USDA says the U.S. agricultural trade deficit reached a record $44 billion at the end of the Biden administration. This year, the department forecasts the deficit will narrow to $29 billion.
Frank McCaffrey reporting for RFD News.
