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Minnesota Pork CEO says Trump term “like tale of two cities”

A pork industry leader says in the wake of trade retaliation from China, the Trump Administration is going to extremes on issues important to agriculture.

Minnesota Pork Producers Association CEO David Preisler tells Brownfield despite reports of China planning 25 percent tariffs on U.S. pork imports, Trump’s term has also been highlighted by some major positives.

“(they) brought some real common-sense to the regulatory side, but then balanced (the positives) with the pretty incredible disappointment on the trade issues.”

He says pork producers remain concerned about the renegotiation of NAFTA and disappointed by U.S. withdrawal from the Trans Pacific Partnership.

“It’s really a tale of two cities.  The regulatory side has been excellent, but the trade side…to say it has been less than helpful would be really generous.”

Preisler says tit-for-tat trade wars don’t help anyone, adding a softening hog market in recent weeks is probably related to the tariff dispute with China.