Source: Susan Kelly,  MEATINGPLACE, 5/17/17


Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Wednesday said USDA’s new undersecretary for trade will be a dealmaker who is constantly on the road meeting face-to-face with potential buyers to promote U.S. agricultural products around the globe.

“This guy is going to be a million-mile flyer,” Perdue said in testimony before the House Agriculture Committee. “Foreign buyers want to see you in person. The presence is important.”

Perdue last week announced a reorganization http://meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/73205 of USDA that establishes a new undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs position and elevates USDA’s rural development agencies to report directly to the secretary. 

The trade post has not yet been filled.

“We’ve got to sell our way out of the supply and demand situation that is depressing prices now,” Perdue said.

The trade undersecretary will be tasked with figuring out “where can I go to sell U.S. agricultural products, who is hungry, who can pay, and how can we do the deal?” Perdue said.

On the subject of NAFTA, Perdue said, “This administration is not against free trade at all. Its really more concerned with fair trade,” Perdue said.

A veterinarian by training, Perdue addressed questions on whether he would support a vaccine bank for preventing major animal diseases, saying it would be wise to consider such a plan as insurance against an outbreak of foot and mouth disease and highly pathogenic avian influenza.

“An outbreak damages the market and gives people loss of confidence in our reputation for safety in the world,” Perdue said.
Perdue said he was impressed with state efforts to contain a recent avian influenza outbreak in Tennessee, including the timely depopulation of affected flocks, biosanitary protocols, and collaboration with authorities in Alabama and Georgia.

“I think the system is working,” he said.

He also discussed the agricultural labor force and the immigration system, saying he has talked to President Donald Trump about the issues.

“He understands the contribution that many immigrants are making to the agricultural economy, and we’re going to help find a way forward for our producers in that area,” Perdue said.

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