USTRs Ambassador Doug MB touts tariff cuts and market wins, flags waterways and supply-chain risks

Ambassador Doug MB, the U.S. chief agricultural negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, told AgCon attendees in Kansas City that the Administration has worked to reduce trade barriers for a broad set of agricultural commodities and to resolve non-tariff obstacles that had blocked U.S. exports.

"There's no commodity too small," the ambassador said, describing tariff reductions on a dozen agricultural products this year and regulatory-barrier removals in 31 countries. He emphasized work on specialty crops as well as traditional exports and said bilateral work can produce rapid, implementable gains for exporters.

Ambassador Doug MB described trade-text talks under way with Taiwan (a signed first-phase agreement and continuing agricultural text work) and said negotiations with Kenya are progressing. He said the Administration is also pursuing Pacific Basin engagements and regional language to diversify markets.

On supply chains, the ambassador and other speakers flagged immediate disruptions caused by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore and low water at the Panama Canal. He said interagency work has prioritized reopening navigation channels for perishable and high-value agricultural goods and that a temporary 35-foot one-way channel and later a 50-foot two-way channel are part of mitigation plans.

The ambassador also said changes in the U.S. dollar and import patterns have recently increased inbound agricultural product volumes and noted the Administrations broader objective to keep export markets open and predictable for U.S. farmers and ranchers.

He closed by encouraging industry engagement and said the USTR will continue to push for science-based market access and to prevent regulatory backsliding by trading partners.