By Jamie Martin
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins is leading a trade delegation to Rome, Italy, from June 2–3 to strengthen American agriculture's global position. Her goal is to address high tariffs and non-tariff barriers faced by U.S. producers in the European Union, especially Italy, and push for improved market access.
Rollins will meet top Italian and global agriculture officials, including Italian Minister Francesco Lollobrigida and UN leaders like Qu Dongyu of the FAO and Cindy McCain of the World Food Programme. She aims to encourage these global agencies to cut costs, focus on core responsibilities, and prioritize American agricultural interests.
“The United States’ relationships with Italian buyers and consumers foster tens of billions in bilateral trade and investment.
However, U.S. agricultural stakeholders have been unfairly left behind for far too long by the European Union and Italy’s high tariffs on U.S. agricultural products and numerous non-tariff barriers,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins.
This visit is part of an aggressive global travel agenda. In May, she visited the United Kingdom and plans future visits to India, Vietnam, Japan, Peru, and Brazil.
Other USDA trade missions this year target markets such as the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mexico.
The U.S. faces trade deficits with India and Brazil and barriers in the U.K. and Vietnam. Rollins seeks to resolve these issues and open fair, sustainable markets for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and food producers worldwide.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National