US trade official visits York to share Trump administration plan for ag exports

It’s been a rough year for Nebraska crop producers, with low corn prices and China’s refusal to buy soybeans leaving many producers in the red, despite relatively high yields.

But speaking in York on Wednesday, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg said there are big wins on the horizon for American agriculture.

Lindberg attended a roundtable with ag producers on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, ahead of a joint review on the agreement scheduled for next summer.

Lindberg said the review process includes three steps – looking to get a better deal, putting buyers and sellers in the same room and ensuring that foreign governments are living up to their commitments.

“We knew there was going to be challenges like milk exports to Canada and GMO corn down to Mexico,” he said. “So we're working now to fix some of those problems as part of that third step in the review.”

In 2024, Mexico and Canada were Nebraska’s largest export markets, each accounting for around 20% of the state’s exported goods.

Lindberg also outlined the Trump administration’s three-point plan to promote trade.

The plan includes the launch of the America First Trade Promotion Program, the expansion of trade financing options for foreign buyers and a new type of trade mission called a TRUMP mission, which stands for Trade Reciprocity for U.S. Manufacturers and Producers.

“These rapid response missions are designed to put farmers on the ground in markets where the president negotiates new market access quickly and effectively,” Lindberg said.

Third District Representative Adrian Smith, who hosted the event, said he’s seen the administration make a lot of progress in leveling the playing field for trade, but more work needs to be done.