Greer recuses himself from phosphate CVD decision, USTR says
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative says that USTR Jamieson Greer has recused himself from any discussions on countervailing duties applied to Moroccan and Russian phosphate fertilizers.
Agri-Pulse reported Thursday that USDA and USTR were split on whether those tariffs should be continued. Ag groups have been calling for the duties to be lifted during a five-year sunset review to ease input cost pressures on growers.
Greer, who represented fertilizer producer Simplot as a trade lawyer prior to joining the administration, has recused himself to avoid any conflicts of interest, USTR says.
“Ambassador Greer has assiduously adhered to all relevant ethical standards for executive branch employees, as well as all relevant D.C. Bar Rules of Professional Conduct, when dealing with matters involving former clients throughout his tenure,” USTR said in a statement.
“Pursuant to D.C. Bar Rule of Professional Conduct 1.9, Ambassador Greer has recused himself from all Trump Administration discussions on countervailing duties (CVDs) orders on Russian and Moroccan phosphate fertilizer imports,” the office added.
Take note: Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden was also involved in a case challenging the duties when he was a judge at the Court of International Trade. A USDA spokesperson told Agri-Pulse in an email Monday that Vaden does not need to recuse himself from discussions because a Court of International Trade judge is still a federal official.
"He was, and still is, a Federal employee," the spokesperson said in an email. "Accordingly, as a Federal employee at all relevant times regarding this matter, there is no conflict of interest, and the Federal Ethics rules allow full participation in the current policy discussions concerning countervailing duties in this matter."
Trump extends Jones act waiver
The president has extended provisions to facilitate the internal transportation of fertilizer and other goods by another 90 days.
In March, the White House lifted requirements for 60 days that goods shipped between U.S. ports must be carried on U.S.-built, flagged and crewed vessels.
White House Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers said Friday the waiver would be extended to provide “both certainty and stability for the U.S. and global economies.”
Take note: Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins continues to tease a forthcoming initiative to help lower fertilizer costs and spur domestic production. She told lawmakers last week that it is too soon to announce details but said it would be an “all-of-government approach.”
Europe and U.S. deepen mineral cooperation as India reports strong trade talks
Last week was a packed week for U.S. trade negotiators. It kicked off with USTR Greer in Mexico for talks with counterparts on a forthcoming free trade deal review. Then Indian and European Union officials were in Washington for talks on their respective trade relationships.
What’s mine is ours: EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič left Washington with a memorandum of understanding for deepening transatlantic cooperation on minerals. A one-page action plan agreed to by the two parties says they intend to discuss the possibility of coordinated critical mineral policies.
Maybe May: An Indian delegation also reported positive discussions with U.S. officials on an interim trade deal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is slated to visit India in May. A close ally to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says both sides are aiming to clinch a deal ahead of the visit.
Deere CEO to Congress: Pass E15 with farm bill
The biggest maker of tractors and other farm machinery is calling on congressional leaders to add E15 to a farm bill that’s expected to get a vote within days.
Deere & Co. Chairman and CEO John May is asking U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries to back the latest effort to allow year-round, voluntary U.S. sales of higher ethanol blends with motor gasoline.
“The farm bill and E15 are practical steps Congress can take now to support agriculture, expand lower-cost fuel access and strengthen American energy independence,” May wrote in a letter on Friday.
The agriculture equipment giant joins corn and biofuel groups in pushing to attach a bipartisan E15 measure to a farm bill. The House Rules Committee meets on Monday to decide which proposed amendments, including E15, can be considered when the farm legislation goes to the House floor for a full vote.
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Tensions are high after multiple failed attempts to get year-round E15 into law. Independent oil refiners are opposed to the latest bill, partly due to a provision that would overhaul how exemptions to biofuel-blending rules are granted under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
There’s also this: The American Soybean Association told Agri-Pulse last week that it’s still assessing the E15 amendment and “the impacts it would have long-term on the RFS, specifically soy-based biofuels, and farmers.” So … stay tuned.
House Republicans press USDA leader on staffing
Fifteen House Republicans are urging the leader of the Agriculture Department’s Farm Production and Conservation Mission Area to ensure county Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency offices are sufficiently staffed.
In a letter to USDA Undersecretary Richard Fordyce, the lawmakers wrote that they’ve heard of “major delays in application processing, payments, and contract certification over the last several months.” They acknowledged that most of those concerns centered around conservation programs and the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, but added that they "remain concerned this will be an ongoing issue for all programs under the Farm Production and Conservation mission area.”
"To best assist our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and producers, there needs to be adequate staffing and resources to deliver on promises made,” they wrote.
Signers include Dan Newhouse and Michael Baumgartner of Washington; Austin Scott of Georgia; Kat Cammack, Scott Franklin and Laurel Lee of Florida; David Valadao of California; Derek Schmidt of Kansas; James Baird of Indiana; Ben Cline of Virginia; Zach Nunn of Iowa; Don Bacon and Mike Flood of Nebraska; Lauren Boebert of Colorado, and David Rouzer of North Carolina.
Final word
“We look at the state of New York, they've had legislation introduced very similar to Prop 12. There was language introduced and discussed in the state of Oklahoma, and neither of those matched exactly to California Prop 12. … This is why the US, pork industry is so worried and continues to talk about the need for a solution, because it's about the potential patchwork. Can we make adjustments here and there, as an industry? Sure we can. But when you start adding another state, and then a few years later another state, and another state, this patchwork is a real concern to the future of the business and of the industry and of the family farms.” – National Pork Producers Council CEO Bryan Humphreys on Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Jeff Nalley, discussing NPPC’s continued push for Congress to prevent states from “reach[ing] outside their jurisdiction and regulat[ing] farmers in other states.”
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