Traveling for Trade: Rollins seeks new global trade markets for U.S. crops

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins will travel to Europe and Asia to seek new trade partnerships for U.S. crops after China reduced imports due to tariffs.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins will be on the road over the next few weeks. She will first stop in the United Kingdom, searching for additional new markets for U.S. crops. Then she will travel to Japan to follow up on President Donald Trump‘s latest trade deal, which is worth half a trillion dollars.

———

Rollins Makes the Most of New Trade Deal with Japan

During an exclusive interview with RFD-TV News, Secretary Rollins said she’s hoping this will make up for Trump’s tariff agenda, which led to a strained trade relationship with China, previously one of the top importers of U.S. agricultural products.

“Eight billion [dollars] a year in commitment from Japan to bring in more soybeans, corn, ethanol, et cetera — and that’s just a massive number that’s going to make a huge difference,” Rollins told RFD-TV on Friday. “Of course, we’ve talked a lot about China being our biggest buyer in some of these commodities, and certainly we need China, especially for soybeans and others, right now. But we have to look to other areas of the world. The new trade deal with Japan includes $550 billion in projects that the U.S. will select.

The U.S. will put a baseline 15% tariff on all Japanese imports, with sector-specific duties on goods like vehicles. It also gives a big boost to row crops like corn and soybeans, with Japan agreeing to ramp up purchases of those U.S. crops.

Related Stories
Congressman Adrian Smith of Nebraska joined us with the latest on efforts to secure year-round E15 sales.
Brian Earnest, an animal protein economist with CoBank, shares insights into current demand trends and the challenges facing broiler production.
Jack Hubbard, with the Center for the Environment and Welfare, shares context and perspective on the controversial letter about Prop 12 circulating in Washington and how a review shows it misled the public.
Decoupled base acres may amplify income inequality and distort planting decisions as farm program payments increase.
From tariff talks in Europe to SCOTUS uncertainty and rising farm losses, analysts say policy and global supply will shape grain markets in the year ahead.
Large Brazilian crops heighten downside price risk if the weather allows production to reach projected levels.
Ethanol and corn groups are not hiding their disappointment over new reports that the bill to allow year-round E15 sales failed as Congress forges ahead on government funding, with another shutdown looming.
Oil-led rallies can move soybean prices quickly, but sustained gains will require continued strength in soybean oil and broader biofuel demand signals.
University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey Gold joined us to discuss seasonal affective disorder, winter mental health, and practical strategies for maintaining well-being in rural communities.