July 25, 2025
China Suspends Tariff Exclusion for U.S. Ag Products
In the latest trade developments, China has reportedly ended the tariff exclusion on American agricultural products. Fresh Fruit Portal says China’s government hasn’t issued an official statement yet. Importers in China have reported to the Foreign Agricultural Service that applications for market-based tariff exclusions will no longer be accepted beginning on August 1. Some of the products include grains, tree nuts, alcohol, leather, and fruits. Importers also said the previously approved exclusions will only be valid until September 14. The affected products were previously eligible for tariff exclusions under a process established in March 2020 by the State Council Tariff Commission of China. The process allowed importers to apply for waivers from the retaliatory Section 301 tariffs on certain U.S. products. Although the process did allow some items outside the predefined list, it covered a total of 696 tariff lines, of which approximately 150 lines apply to U.S. agricultural products.
***********************************************************************************
Australia Relaxes Curbs on U.S. Beef Imports
Australia says it will ease up its restrictions on U.S. beef imports. The country’s ag minister made the announcement this week, potentially smoothing trade talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, who was unhappy about the beef import blockage. Reuters said it’s unlikely to significantly boost shipments because beef prices are a lot lower in Australia. The country’s ag minister said a rigorous science and risk-based assessment had found that U.S. measures monitoring and controlling the movement of cattle mean that biosecurity risks are effectively being managed. “The government will never compromise on biosecurity,” said Ag Minister Julie Collins. “Australia stands for open and fair trade, and our cattle industry has significantly benefited from this.” U.S. beef has been allowed into Australia since 2019, but few suppliers could prove their animals had only been in the U.S., because cattle frequently move between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico without being adequately tracked.
***********************************************************************************
NCBA Reacts to a More Open Australian Market
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said, for the first time in 20 years, Australia will accept shipments of fresh and frozen U.S. beef. That ends decades of bureaucratic red tape and prolonged negotiations that have prevented American cattle producers from accessing the Australian market. “For 20 years, U.S. beef was denied access to Australia while they exported $29 billion in beef to U.S. consumers,” said NCBA President Buck Wehrbein (WEAR-byne). “The lack of two-way, science-based trade has been a sticking point for many years, and we’re pleased the Australian market is officially open to U.S. beef.” The U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement took effect in 2005 and was intended to allow U.S. beef to be sold in Australia. For 20 years, no U.S. beef could get into the Australian market, but during the same period, Australia sold more than $28 billion worth of beef on the United States’ market.
***********************************************************************************
EPA Proposed Registering Dicamba Again
The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to re-register Dicamba herbicide for over-the-top application on cotton and soybeans. Successful Farming says there will be restrictions intended to limit possible ecological harm. Dicamba has been blamed for significant off-target damage to crops and other vegetation. Federal courts have vacated the registration twice, in 2020 and 2024. The decision in February 2024 prevented the product from being used during the past two growing seasons for soybeans and cotton. The agency also said it plans to impose new mitigation requirements for the herbicide to address ecological impacts. Among the proposed restrictions is a single-use maximum application rate of 0.5 acid equivalent Dicamba per acre. Not everyone was happy with the announcement. The Center for Biological Diversity, which has challenged past registrations, immediately criticized the agency’s decision to move forward with the registration. Bayer, which makes Xtendimax, one of three Dicamba products, applauded the EPA’s announcement.
***********************************************************************************
More Reaction to Indonesia-U.S. Trade Framework
The White House announced a Framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade with Indonesia that will unlock significant market access for American farmers, producers, and manufacturers. The deal will lower tariff and non-tariff barriers for American exporters. “The agreement opens the door to billions in new exports, including soybeans, wheat, and other key commodities,” said Mike Seyfert, President of the National Grain and Feed Association. The National Corn Growers Association said Indonesia is an important market for U.S. DDGS, and U.S. corn and corn products will now have duty-free access in this deal. U.S. Meat Export Federation President Dan Halstrom says Indonesia is an incredible market with a lot of potential, and the opportunity for U.S. beef could reach $250 million annually. Indonesia has agreed to purchase $4.5 billion worth of U.S. agricultural products, including soybeans, soybean meal, wheat, and cotton, which is good news for U.S. ag.
***********************************************************************************
Rollins Announces USDA Reorganization
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a new reorganization plan for the USDA. The plan refocuses its core operations to better align with its founding mission of supporting U.S. farming, ranching, and forestry. The reorganization plan consists of four parts: ensuring the size of USDA’s workforce aligns with available financial resources and agricultural priorities; bringing USDA closer to its customers; eliminating management layers and bureaucracy; and consolidating redundant support functions. To bring USDA closer to the people it serves while providing a more affordable cost of living for employees, USDA has developed a phased in plan to relocate much of its agency headquarters and staff out of the Washington, D.C. area to five hub locations. USDA’s five hub locations are Raleigh, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Salt Lake City, Utah. “It’s long past time that the USDA better serve our farmers, ranchers, and producers,” said Rollins.
**********************************************************************************