Trade

Hormuz dispute intensifies as U.S.-Iran ceasefire collapses

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 20:09:56 -0400

The breakdown of a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is threatening a fresh wave of disruption to global energy and agriculture supply chains.

U.S.-Iran dispute over Hormuz threatens farm economy anew

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:29:19 -0400

The U.S. military, under orders from President Donald Trump, says it will resume a blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. The move, along with Trump saying the U.S. will charge other vessels a 20% toll for safe passage, further casts doubt on the interim peace deal between Washington and Tehran.

Daybreak July 10: Strait of Hormuz status in dispute

noah@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 09:11:58 -0400

Renewed hostilities between Iran and the U.S. have effectively brought traffic through the Strait of Hormuz “to a halt,” Lloyds List Intelligence said late Thursday. The U.S. exported $4.7 billion in agricultural products to Vietnam in 2025, making the U.S. the second largest agriculture supplier to the country, according to a July 9 report released by the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

Daybreak July 9: Trump halts trade with Spain

noah@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:08:39 -0400

President Donald Trump has ordered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cut off all trade with Spain despite an upward trend of U.S. agricultural exports to the country. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, says Congress needs to move on legislation to allow voluntary, year-round sales of higher ethanol fuel blends, known as E15, before lawmakers adjourn for five weeks starting in early October.

Agriculture industry urges USTR to make exemptions to proposed forced labor tariffs

olivia@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:57:08 -0400

Agriculture industry experts at a hearing urged the Trump administration to adjust its list of food and drink products exempt from possible levies on 60 nations for allegedly using forced labor.

China's appetite for U.S. soy grows as trade outlook brightens

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 12:56:27 -0400

China made its biggest one-day purchase of U.S. soybeans since January amid expectations that trade relations between Washington and Beijing will continue to improve.

Countries move to implement trade agreements, boost agricultural market access

olivia@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:10:00 -0400

USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg says trading partners have begun implementing the trade deals made with the Trump administration as the agricultural trade deficit continues to fall.

Dubai chocolate craze helps pistachios defy tree nut downturn

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:01:00 -0400

The Dubai chocolate craze is helping fuel record pistachio demand, giving California growers a rare bright spot even as they brace for a much smaller crop.

U.S. farmers pay more for inputs than Brazil, corn group says

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 04:00:00 -0400

A new report from the National Corn Growers Association shows U.S. farmers are paying much more for farm inputs like seeds and pesticides than their biggest rivals in Brazil.

Daybreak July 7: Soybeans soar on speculation

noah@agri-pulse.com — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:17:50 -0400

Soybeans climbed the most in nearly a year Monday amid concern about extreme weather and hopes of fresh Chinese purchases of U.S. crops. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is holding a series of multiday hearings to determine the future of proposed Section 301 tariffs this week.

Cattle group criticizes proposal to exempt Brazilian beef from tariffs

olivia@agri-pulse.com — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:46:05 -0400

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative heard testimony Monday on its proposal to exempt beef from a proposed 25% tariff on Brazilian imports as part of the Trump administration’s goal to reduce prices.

European Union lifts tariffs on nuts, fruits, vegetables and lobsters

olivia@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 22:48:24 -0400

The Council of the European Union and European Parliament approved regulations to remove tariffs on U.S. nuts, fruits, vegetables and lobsters as well as establish a tariff-rate quota for 500,000 metric tons of tree nuts to enter the EU market.

Daybreak July 2: Thompson optimistic about labor bill’s prospects

noah@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 09:24:22 -0400

A bill to overhaul America’s H-2A agricultural guest worker program stands out from prior attempts thanks to a secure U.S. border, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson tells Agri-Pulse Newsmakers. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Wednesday the administration would not renew the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement, but the agreement is still in place.

Trump administration declines USMCA renewal; dairy industry weighs in

olivia@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 17:12:51 -0400

The Trump administration will not renew the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement in its current form, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced Wednesday. The agreement has been a boon to farm country, but lawmakers and the dairy industry say there's room for improvement.

USDA announces new $500 million fertilizer grant program

steve@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:38:09 -0400

USDA unveiled a new $500 million grant program Wednesday to boost domestic manufacturing of fertilizer that will be focused on projects that are “shovel-ready.”

Daybreak July 1: Glyphosate duty request angers grower groups

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:40:30 -0400

Commodity groups are protesting Monsanto’s filing of petitions seeking duties on glyphosate imported from China. A federal judge has blocked the Agriculture Department from cutting off grants to 24 groups under a Biden-era program aimed at helping underserved producers access land.

‘American wine’ fight divides longtime allies as growers seek relief

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 07:03:00 -0400

A fight over what qualifies as “American wine” exposed a rare divide between California grape growers, family wineries and major wine companies as struggling vineyards sought relief from low-cost imports.

USMCA review period opens with Trump questioning pact’s future

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 06:08:00 -0400

President Donald Trump is raising fresh doubts about whether the United States will extend the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement as the trade pact reaches its six-year review point, even as officials in Canada and Mexico show interest in preserving the deal for another 16 years.

Trump lifts duties on Moroccan phosphate

steve@agri-pulse.com — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 21:44:15 -0400

President Donald Trump suspended duties on Moroccan phosphate Monday night through an executive order, prompting cheers from farm groups.

Daybreak Monday, June 29: US, Iran trade strikes

noah@agri-pulse.com — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 09:12:28 -0400

As Washington prepares for a big week in agriculture, with review of the North American trade deal, farm labor legislation and one of USDA’s biggest reports of the year all on tap, the fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran was tested this weekend. EPA’s new mandates for biomass-based diesel under the Renewable Fuel Standard are welcome, but the soybean crush industry also needs a signal from the agency on whether to keep expanding, Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen says.

Washington Week Ahead: Agricultural trade and labor outlook in spotlight

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 17:15:31 -0400

Almost a third of all U.S. agricultural exports are on the line as the first joint review of the North American trade deal starts later this week. In Congress, debate over foreign farm workers begins anew with the unveiling of a plan to revamp ag labor law.

Daybreak Friday, June 26: Boozman on Prop 12, E15

grace@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:34:34 -0400

The Senate’s draft farm bill doesn’t include language for year-round E15 or the elimination of California’s Proposition 12, but Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman is still highly optimistic both measures will make it through Congress this year. The two biggest U.S. ethanol trade groups are defending the Trump administration against legal challenges to EPA biofuel-blending rules from environmentalists, biogas groups and oil refiners.

Daybreak June 25: Ag groups like Trump’s E15 push

noah@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:01:14 -0400

President Donald Trump made the biggest pitch for year-round E15 since his first term, calling on Congress to include the pro-ethanol measure in a nearly $88 billion legislative package to fund a raft of items, including the Iran war and $11 billion in financial aid for farmers. Members of Clean Fuels Alliance America gathered on Capitol Hill this week to stress the need to pass legislation to expand biomass-based diesel use in ocean-going vessels.

Former USDA officials dispute Rollins' criticism of their screwworm efforts

steve@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 06:05:00 -0400

Former officials at USDA who dealt with New World screwworm as it advanced closer to the U.S. push back against criticism of the Biden administration's efforts leveled by Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins.

Boozman unveils farm bill draft that sidesteps thorny issues

noah@agri-pulse.com — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:29:20 -0400

The Senate Agriculture Committee's five-year "farm bill 2.0" would bolster key farm and rural development initiatives while sidestepping the most controversial food and ag issues of the day.

New soy plant makes Midwest more 'trade-war-proof,' company says

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:09:50 -0400

A new soybean crushing plant in Illinois will help reduce U.S. farmers' reliance on Chinese demand, attendees at Incobrasa's ribbon-cutting ceremony said on Monday.

Daybreak June 22: Strait’s status unclear as talks commence

noah@agri-pulse.com — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:18:04 -0400

U.S. talks to end the war with Iran advanced over the weekend even as uncertainty hung over the status of trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Even in the best-case scenario for resuming key cargoes through the Strait of Hormuz, it will take time for disrupted energy and fertilizer markets to recover, says Corey Rosenbusch, president and CEO of The Fertilizer Institute.

Washington Week Ahead: Farm bill and global trade under close watch

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 21:25:48 -0400

A highly anticipated farm bill draft is in focus as senators kick off their last full legislative work week before a 10-day recess. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is in India this week for bilateral trade talks.

Fertilizer, fuel prices drop with all eyes on Strait of Hormuz

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:41:36 -0400

Key nitrogen fertilizer prices are falling as the world waits to see if a preliminary U.S.-Iran peace deal will hold. Even in the best-case scenario, it will take time to get facilities back up and fully running, says Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Alexis Maxwell.

USDA announces Foreign Agricultural Service, RD reorganizations

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:36:23 -0400

The Agriculture Department plans to relocate “much of” the Foreign Agricultural Service’s Washington D.C.-based workforce to Kansas City, Missouri, and Beltsville, Maryland, as part of its reorganization plan, the agency announced Wednesday.