Secretary of Ag Perdue Focuses on Trade

The U.S. farming community is in “dire straits” that could be alleviated by a stronger international trade presence, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told Capitol Hill lawmakers last week during a hearing focused on the state of the U.S. rural economy.

Speaking before members of the House Agriculture Committee, Perdue warned he sees “some challenges ahead” as President Donald Trump—per the initial budgetary wish list he released in March—angles to cut the USDA’s budget by 21 percent, or $4.7 billion.

“Our budget situations are challenging,” Perdue said. “We’ve got to sell our way out of this supply-demand situation that is depressing prices in the U.S. now.”

Earlier this month, Perdue announced he’d oversee a significant reorganization effort at the USDA, in the process bringing on an undersecretary for trade—a position authorized under the 2014 Farm Bill but left unfilled during the final years of former President Obama’s administration. Perdue has said this will be a Senate-confirmed position, and the administration has begun looking at candidates.

“I want someone who wakes up every morning and asks the question: ‘Where can I sell more U.S. products today?’ and ‘What are the barriers to trade that we can take down today,’” Perdue said in a video circulated to department employees.

Perdue said the undersecretary will work with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as they look at, among other things, potential tweaks to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

“Our role at the USDA is to provide the expertise, the content to the secretary of commerce, Secretary Ross, and to our new trade representative, Mr. Lighthizer, in order to be a triumvirate of sales,” he said.

Perdue has not adopted the anti-NAFTA, anti-Trans-Pacific Partnership rhetoric often used by his boss. He and Ross are even rumored to have been instrumental in convincing Trump not to terminate NAFTA, according to The Washington Post. The secretary has acknowledged that aspects of the failed TPP negotiations could serve as “building blocks” for NAFTA’s renegotiation.

Perdue said that while NAFTA has been an overall positive for American ag any trade deal can be improved.

“When the rules are fair and the playing field is level, U.S. agriculture will succeed and lead the world,” he said. 

Source: U.S. News, USDA