Mexico Dry Bean Harvest Update
It is estimated that Mexico’s 2021 spring/summer dry bean harvest saw 1.166 million hectares planted, with a harvestable area of 97% of the total planted. This is assuming no adverse weather events. At the time of this writing, harvest is still underway and has progressed as follows: 40% in Chihuahua 25% in Durango 50% […]
EU to End Retaliatory Tariffs
The Biden Administration has announced that the European Union (EU) will lift retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports in exchange for duty-free access for some steel and aluminum shipments. U.S. dry bean exports to the EU have faced 25% retaliatory import tariffs since 2018 as a result of a trade dispute over U.S. tariffs on […]
FACG Summer Meeting Reveals New Food Assistance Priorities
The U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC) participated in the summer meeting of the Food Aid Consultative Group (FACG). FACG is a public/private forum mandated in the farm bill to provide a platform for U.S. government agencies to interact with private sector counterparts including Private Voluntary Organizations, agricultural trade groups and Maritime on food assistance priorities. […]
Retaliatory Tariff Removal Discussions Press Forward
Since June 2018, the European Union (EU) has applied 25% retaliatory tariffs on the import of select U.S. agricultural products, including dry beans. The tariffs were applied in response to a Section 232 case that resulted in the application of tariffs on imports of European steel and aluminum. Almost since the day the tariffs went […]
USDBC Submits Unified Export Strategy
The U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC) submitted the annual Unified Export Strategy (UES) for the 2022 program year to USDA/FAS. The UES is the comprehensive annual global strategy for the U.S. dry bean industry that details the market conditions, constraints, opportunities, activities, and benchmarks in current and emerging export markets. While strategies change from year […]
New Global Maximum Residue Limit Initiative
Last week, the U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC) began work on a new initiative to tackle the global challenges of low or zero tolerance levels on pesticides/herbicides by launching the Crop Protection Action Coalition for Trade (CPACT). CPACT is funded through the USDA/FAS’ Global Broad-Based Initiatives (GBI) program, as it is a USDBC led coalition of […]
USDBC Outlines Top Three Trade Policy Areas
The U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC) continues to pursue an ambitious trade policy agenda into the third quarter of 2021 as key U.S. government trade personnel are confirmed and/or appointed. The organization is addressing numerous trade policy priorities around the globe, and has identified the top three as: Removal of EU/UK tariffs – U.S. […]
USDBC Awarded Global Broad-Based Initiative Grants
The U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC) was awarded two new Global Broad-Based Initiative (GBI) grants from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). GBI grants are focused on cross-cutting policy issues that impact trade for a variety of agricultural commodities. USDBC will serve as the project lead and will work together with other commodity groups in the implementation. […]
USDBC Winter Board Meeting Outlines a Busy 2021
The U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC) concluded its winter board meeting virtually last week. During the meeting, USDBC outlined numerous initiatives for 2021 that capitalize on continued strong global demand for U.S. dry beans. The initiatives outlined include: A new staffing pattern for Latin America (not including Mexico) resulting in enhanced market coverage and […]
Dry Bean Scene
The dry bean industry has outlined policy priorities for the incoming Presidential Administration. Resolving the ongoing trade dispute and tariffs with the EU is top of mind, along with a trade agreement between the U.S. and the UK. Hear more from U.S. Dry Bean Council Executive Director Rebecca Bratter in the latest Dry Bean Scene.
