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The Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved USDA adviser Doug McKalip to be the chief agricultural negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, sending the nomination to the full Senate for final approval.

“Today’s unanimous vote by the Senate Finance Committee sends a strong, bipartisan message that Doug McKalip will be an outstanding Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative,” USTR Katherine Tai said iafter the 27-0 vote.  “Doug’s decades of public service and his unparalleled knowledge of agricultural and food security issues will be a major asset to our office as we continue to advance a trade agenda that benefits our farmers, ranchers, and producers.”

Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., lauded McKalip’s three decades in government service – many at USDA – and said, “There’s no doubt that he’ll be ready to step in and succeed as Chief Ag Negotiator on day one, and he’s sure to be busy.”

But it’s unclear when that “day one” will be, given that he needs a final Senate vote. 

“Given the importance of this position, I urge the United States Senate to confirm Doug as soon as possible so he can get to work on behalf of American agricultural producers, workers, and businesses,” Tai said.

Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, the top Republican on the Finance Committee said Wednesday that he supported McKalip’s nomination despite the Biden administration’s refusal so far to negotiate traditional market access agreements with countries that include tariff reductions on ag commodities.

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McKalip, Crapo said, “will play a critical role in opening opportunities for our farmers. Our farmers need those opportunities more than ever in the face of record inflation … Although, I am disappointed that the (Biden) administration has not prioritized agricultural market access.”

Crapo’s complaint is a common one on Capitol Hill, but Tai continues to brush off the criticism even as she is scheduled Thursday to kick off the second ministerial meeting with leaders from the 13 nations that have signed up for the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, or IPEF.

Tai has argued that U.S. ag exports will benefit substantially from IPEF agreements that will lift non-tariff barriers on American farm goods.

“In addition to USTR's ongoing efforts to improve and maintain international market access for U.S. red meat, several new Biden administration trade initiatives are underway that will benefit from Mr. McKalip's agricultural experience and expertise,” U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom said Wednesday. “USMEF thanks the Senate Finance Committee for advancing his nomination and we urge prompt approval by the full Senate.”

Bill Tomson Senior Trade Editor

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This week’s Open Mic guest is House Ag Ranking Member Glenn “GT” Thompson. At last week's Farm Progress Show, Thompson offered thoughts on crafting a 2023 farm bill including an opportunity to chair the committee if the GOP wins a majority in the November midterms. The Pennsylvania 15th district representative is determined to see the committee do the work to write new farm policy with full committee hearings in Washington and across the country. Thompson favors investigating a shift to margin coverage for commodity programs and supports programs for small and beginning farmers as well as ag businesses. Thompson is critical of a “politically motivated” EPA and favors renewable liquid fuels over mandates for electric vehicles.

In this opinion piece, Betsy Huber with the National Grange discusses the proposed SEC rules and how they would affect agriculture.

Lawmakers are headed into the final months of the 117th Congress, offering a chance to decide what priorities will see action this year and work on bills for the next session. For Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., that means a big focus on the next farm bill. She joins Newsmakers to discuss that legislation as well as the committee’s agenda for the rest of the year.

Then, Robert Guenther of the International Fresh Produce Association, Bruce Knight of Strategic Conservation Solutions and Tara Smith of Michael Torrey Associates offer their thoughts on some of the big topics that will need to be addressed in the 2023 farm bill.

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