Competition with China was front and center at a Senate hearing on the Panama Canal.
The Chair of the Federal Maritime Commission told lawmakers China’s grip has been around for some time.
“It’s a problem that has been going on for 20 years, which makes it very difficult to answer your question. It is a long answer. This is not a problem that occurred last week. This is not something that President Trump identified, this was going on all President Biden’s term, but of all of President Trump’s first term. It has been going on for decades and decades through both U.S. Republicans and Democrats as President. The only thing I can say is I echo was Ranking Member Cantell said, and I think others of both parties have echoed it, that we need some sort of overall maritime strategy. We have to acknowledge that this is part of our national security,” said Daniel B. Maffei.
During the hearing, Texas Senator Ted Cruz emphasized that China’s influence on the Canal is a national security risk. They also discussed shipping fees and ways to minimize the impact on American businesses.
Global trade teams and summit discussions highlight expanding opportunities for U.S. corn and ethanol exports as nations explore renewable fuel options and reduced-carbon energy pathways.
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Peel says Mexico has a much greater capability to expand its beef industry than it did 20 or 30 years ago in terms of its feeding and packing infrastructure.
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The impacts of the government shutdown have reached commodity growers with crops to move, ag economists monitoring the harvest without key data reporting, and meat producers in need of new export markets.
October 16, 2025 01:03 PM
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In a statement provided to RFD-TV News, a USDA spokesperson reiterated President Trump and the USDA’s commitment to farmers in difficult economic times.
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China is not one of our top suppliers of cooking oil, according to USDA ERS data, but does export a lot of used cooking oil to the U.S. for biofuel production.
October 15, 2025 12:13 PM
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New U.S. fees on Chinese-owned and built ships took effect overnight, marking the latest escalation in maritime trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.
October 14, 2025 11:33 AM
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