IARN — Trade was the biggest agricultural topic for the past two years. Negotiating trade deals with Japan, China, and the United States – Mexico – Canada Agreement were all things the Ag industry was excited about at the beginning of the year. Iowa really stood to benefit from the better flow of our agricultural products to our strongest markets.
Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated things a bit. However, that does not mean trade is halted. The trade deals are still in place. COVID-19 has not stopped Iowa from doing business, it has just changed how it is being done for the time being.
Iowa has been known to make trade trips to visit their trading partners. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig went on two big trade trips before the pandemic took hold. Last fall, he joined Governor Kim Reynolds on a trip to Japan, and earlier this year he led a trip to Mexico. Naig says that Iowa has always had a “mentality of going.” He adds that it is important to meet with your customers face to face.
For more on this story, visit the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
