The Week in Agribusiness: Tequila Conquers The Globe

USMCA passes with a wide margin in the US senate. Approval in Canada is next as the treaty finally comes close to being a reality.

The week was also marked by the signing of a pact between the US and China, in which China pledges to import US$40-50 billion in US agricultural produce. Skeptics doubt the willingness of China to comply.

In Mexico, the Ministry of Food Security (Segalmex) has moved its seat to Zacatecas, a first step in more moves to come.

Ready for more? Here are the week’s headlines:

Mexico

Tequila continues to break export records.

Secretary Villalobos and Zacatecas governor Tello Cristerna inaugurate the new head offices of Ministry of Food Security (Segalmex) in Zacatecas, Zacatecas. The move is part of the government’s intention to decentralize federal bodies away from Mexico City.

Representatives of the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) meet with members of the ‘Product-System’ bodies (Sistema-Producto) to discuss how to strengthen the agricultural sector in 2020. A central topic is the use of technology to increase production and combat climate change.

The Poblano Agricultural Council (Ceagro) solicits the government of Puebla for 180 million pesos to support the state’s farmers.

Trade deals

USMCA is passed by a wide margin in the US Senate.

Canada is the next stop for USMCA ratification.

Secretary Villalobos issues a statement expressing he expects USMCA to bring certainty to the agricultural sector.

China and the US sign a trade pact that will boost Chinese US imports by US$200 billion. Tariff on different products remain in place.

European trade commissioner Phil Hogan expresses optimism about the direction of fresh talks with US counterparts with the goal of resetting trade ties.

World

Walmart opens a beef packing facility in Georgia, taking a new step in consolidating the supply chain.

Locust plagues continue to devastate crops across the Horn of Africa, threatening regional food security.