New Trade Deal Could Bring Help for Beef and Ethanol Industries
- Dave Price
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
The promise of new trade deals fuels both optimism and pessimism from farmers and producers as they wait for developments from the Trump administration. One of the newest updates came following an agreement between the U.S. and the United Kingdom. The agreement would continue Trump’s 10% tariffs on most imports from the U.K.
That means a reduction from 25% on cars and auto parts from the U.K. headed into the United States (although, this is limited to the first 100,000 vehicles each year). The 25% on steel and aluminum imports (initiated by the Trump administration in March) would no longer be in effect.
The agreement could lead to increased American beef exports, although possibly more beef imports as well.
"This is going to exponentially increase our beef exports. And to be very clear, American beef is the safest, the best quality and the crown jewel of American agriculture for the world," U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said.
Some in the U.S. cattle industry feels hopeful about the trade agreement.
Cattle Industry Praises Trade Deal
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Buck Wehrbein, a Nebraska cattleman, praised the agreement.“For years, American cattle producers have seen the United Kingdom as an ideal partner for trade. Between our countries’ shared history, culture, and their desire for high-quality American beef, securing a trade agreement is a natural step forward
Ethanol producers see promise with the trade deal as the 19% tariffs will disappear. “This is great news,” said Illinois farmer and NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr. “We applaud President Trump and his administration for brokering this deal, and we encourage them to continue to include corn, corn ethanol and corn co-products in future bilateral agreements with other countries.”
Ban on Some Mexican Imports Because of Screwworm
Secretary Rollins announced a 15-day suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports from Mexico due to a resurgence of the New World Screwworm (NWS). It is a parasitic fly that poses significant risks to livestock and, in rare cases, humans. The suspension, which began May 11th, follows recent detections of NWS in southern Mexico, approximately 700 miles from the U.S. border.
The USDA emphasized that this measure is a precautionary step to protect animal health and food safety. Rollins said, “(Mexican) Secretary (Julio) Berdegué (Sacristán) and I have worked closely on the NWS response; however, it is my duty to take all steps within my control to protect the livestock industry in the United States from this devastating pest.”
She added, “The protection of our animals and safety of our nation’s food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance. Once we see increased surveillance and eradication efforts, and the positive results of those actions, we remain committed to opening the border for livestock trade. This is not about politics or punishment of Mexico, rather it is about food and animal safety.”
RELATED: You can find purple corn in Mexico, but American farmers are looking at the growing option, too.
