Brazil's Wheat TRQ to Increase US Wheat Exports, USTR Says
The Trump administration applauded Brazil’s commitment to implement an annual duty-free tariff rate quota of 750,000 metric tons of wheat imports, saying the move signals a desire to deepen trade ties with the U.S. In a Nov. 14 statement, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the TRQ will benefit U.S. wheat exporters. It “will allow our wheat exporters to compete on a level playing field,” Lighthizer said. “We look forward to increased exports of American wheat to Brazil.”
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The USTR said the TRQ announcement “fulfills a commitment” made by Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro to President Donald Trump when the two met earlier this year. “For many years, Brazil failed to implement its obligation under the [World Trade Organization] to establish a TRQ for wheat,” the USTR said. The move “reflects a desire to deepen trade and economic ties between both countries.”
The U.S. is “excited” about the opportunity this will give U.S. wheat farmers, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said. “American farmers can compete with anybody when given access to customers,” he said. “Exports are critical to the success of our farmers and the United States looks forward to once again having stable access to this important wheat market.”