Page 32 - Export or Bust eBook

Peterson says the trade battles have “forced us to form coalitions” with other U.S. stakeholders and with
“customers overseas worried about their supply relationship with us. They don’t like this any more than
we do.” He says the new coalitions aim to alert the Trump administration to escalating impacts on U.S.
agriculture from recent policy changes.

Fowler adds that uncertainty about TPP risks “losing a 3 million metric ton market in Japan” and is
“hugely damaging to the soybean market.” Peterson and Fowler tell Agri-Pulse that the strategy to
success is to sign new trade agreements, complete the NAFTA negotiations without harming ag exports,
reconsider joining the TPP, use the WTO dispute settlement process, and double funding for USDA’s
MAP and FMD programs as Sen. King’s CREAATE legislation proposes.

Trade battles undermine U.S.
reputation as a reliable supplier

USGC President and CEO Tom Sleight

warns that due to the trade battles
launched by the U.S., “our loyal,

longtime customers are actively

looking at alternative sources of supply
… We’re hurting our reputation not

only in China, but with other trading

partners, with key ones like Japan,

Korea, Mexico. Even in places in

Southeast Asia that are new and
growing markets for the U.S., we’re
creating doubt.”

USGC President and CEO Tom Sleight on an elevator tour looking “There are definite consequences if
at grain quality. Source: U.S. Grains Council
these battles do not get settled

expediently and with proper

attention to the impact on
agriculture,” he says.

USCG Global Programs Senior Director Cary Sifferath taking the USGC Senior Director of Global
gloves off in South Korea, explaining the buying of U.S. quality. Programs Cary Sifferath adds that it
Source: U.S. Grains Council takes constant work to maintain
current markets while also pursuing
new ones. This work includes helping
the Trump administration understand
the importance of resolving issues with
China before more export
opportunities are lost.

Sifferath points out that “Mexico has
overtaken Japan as our largest export
market for corn, it’s our largest export
market for DDGS, our second-largest
market for sorghum exports, our

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