U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will create an undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the office announced on Thursday.
The new position will promote the U.S. agriculture industry and will work with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who was confirmed Thursday, and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to “ensure that American producers are well equipped to sell their products and feed the world.”
The new position does away with the undersecretary for rural development, giving Perdue direct oversight of economic development programs. The USDA reorganization plan also combines the responsibilities of two undersecretaries into one position to oversee farm subsidies and land stewardship.
Praise from ag groups
Agricultural groups, including the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA), North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA), the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) praised Perdue’s announcement.
“It is highly significant that one of Secretary Perdue’s first actions reflects his recognition of, and strong support for, the essential role that agricultural trade plays in the economic well-being of U.S. farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, rural communities and the nation as a whole,” NGFA and NAEGA said in a joint statement. “Reorganizing its structure and mission areas along these more functional lines, combined with the appointment of strong and capable officials to fill these positions, will help ensure the ongoing success of USDA programs that support trade and that USDA plays an influential role in helping inform and develop the Trump administration’s overall trade strategies.”
NAMI said it has actively supported creating the new trade position for many years and joined with several food and agriculture industry partners in a February letter to President Donald Trump urging the administration to reorganize USDA’s trade structure as required by a provision in the 2014 Farm Bill.
“USDA’s current trade structure is outdated and needs streamlining to keep pace with the current trade challenges in the global marketplace. An undersecretary for trade will bring unified high-level, agriculture-focused representation to key trade negotiations with senior, foreign officials and within the Executive Branch to help grow trade opportunities around the world,” NAMI said in a statement.
NPPC said it also has advocated for the position.
“Clearly, the Trump administration recognizes the importance of exports to U.S. agriculture, which has a trade surplus. The new undersecretary can help convey our message to the administration that it should work to preserve and expand foreign market access for U.S. agricultural products,” NPPC said in a statement.
Advocating for trade
At his confirmation hearing in March, Perdue said he was looking forward to working with the Trump administration on boosting agriculture trade around the world.
“I hope we can work very closely with (the administration) to put agriculture first in their repertoire of things to trade,” Perdue said. “Food is a noble thing to trade.”
He pointed to the fact that the U.S. produces more food than it needs, therefore creating the need to export to other countries – something he plans to be involved in firsthand.
“We have producers here who can produce more than we need to consume. That’s not true everywhere,” he said. “I plan to be on-site as USDA’s chief salesman around the world.”
