President Trump has announced that a trade deal between the U.S. and Vietnam has been secured.
The President called it a “great deal of cooperation” between the two countries. Vietnam has agreed to pay the United States 20 percent tariffs on any and all goods and a 40 percent tariff for trans-shipping. In return, Vietnam is giving the United States total access to its markets for trade with no tariffs.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has called the deal a massive win for American businesses and huge for farmers. The deal comes after China has been working towards strengthening trade ties with Vietnam amid tariff disruptions.
Related Stories
While the agriculture industry hoped details on proposed “bridge” payments for farmers would be released this week, Ag Secretary Brook Rollins said the USDA is still working with the White House on the finer points.
China’s renewed purchases signal improving sorghum demand at a time when export markets are otherwise uneven. Meanwhile, agriculture groups across the U.S, Canada, and Mexico want to protect close trade relations.
Pressure on grain storage capacity and stronger export positioning are pushing more grain onto railroads, highways, and river systems as logistics become a key bottleneck this fall.
The Cotton-4 are pushing hard for new value chain investments. Still, many U.S. cotton producers face unsustainable losses, and weakened regional textile capacity threatens the survival of the Carolina “dirt-to-shirt” supply chain.
Despite the need for swift action, many ag lawmakers and industry groups argue that farm aid alone will likely not be sufficient to help farmers without improved trade relations with China.