Vietnam Agriculture Trade

Agriculture trade is important for the success of so many. This week we take a look at the country of Vietnam and agriculture trade. We challenge you to utilize the discussion points below and explore with others how Vietnam agriculture trade may or may not relate to your life. 

Vietnam: A Feed Importing Powerhouse

Discussion Points

• What has been the trend with feed imports and meat production in Vietnam? How does this look in comparison to your home country?
• What global challenges and/or successes have had an impact on Vietnam agriculture trade? How have these same challenges and/or successes impacted your home country or region?
• What other world events could impact agriculture trade that were not mentioned in the report?
• This report discusses the different regions in which aquaculture, pigs, or birds are produced in Vietnam. What factors influence production by regions? Do you see the same type of regional patterns with agricultural production in your home country?

Global Agricultural Commodity Markets

This week we take a look back at 2020 on the state of agricultural commodity markets around the globe. Global agriculture markets provide complex challenges and opportunities that are explored in the linked article below. We encourage you to explore the linked webpage and utilize the discussion points below to guide conversations with others around the world.

Agricultural Commodity Markets 2020

Discussion Points

• The webpage starts off with, "We live in an interconnected world." Explain what this means in regards to agriculture and what it means to you personally. 
• Several graphs and charts are used throughout the webpage. Which one do you find most intriguing and why?
• Many challenges are shared. Create a list of these challenges and determine which one you would address as a top priority. Justify your response. 
• What ideas do you have to turn these challenges into opportunities? How might you take action locally to have a global impact?

Fishing and Transshipment

Fishing around the globe is a giant business with challenging logistics. The linked video below explores the benefits and challenges of transshipment in the fishing industry. We encourage you to watch the video and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe!

Regulating, Controlling, and Monitoring Transshipment

Discussion Points

• What is transshipment?
• Identify the benefits and challenges of transshipment in the fishing industry.
• What could the impacts to global food security be if individuals or groups take advantage of transshipment in improper ways?
• Imagine you have been tasked with battling the challenges of misuse and abuse of transshipment with fishing. What solutions would you suggest and who might be responsible for monitoring and regulating?
• Do you believe there are things we can learn from transshipment logistics that could be applied to other areas of agriculture or other fields? Explain. 

United States Soybeans to Brazil

Many reports have shown that in May of 2020 Brazil overtook the United States as the number one soybean producing country in the world. With this being the case why is Brazil importing soybeans from the United States? The article linked below provides some answers. We encourage you to explore the linked article and utilize the discussion points to guide your conversations around the globe. 

Brazil-Bound U.S. Soybean Vessel Loading at Gulf Coast Terminal

Discussion Points

• Why is Brazil turning to the United States for soybeans?
• What did you find most surprising from the article and why?
• Trade relations can have intended and unintended consequences that impact many around the globe. What are some examples within this article? 
• What are the trade relations with your home country and the world? What do you see as the future?

Global Agricultural and Food Markets

The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations launches September 23rd. In leading up to it's launch a couple personnel with the FAO highlight some key points and challenges facing us. We encourage you to watch the linked videos below and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe!

Interview with Maximo Torero

Interview with George Rapsomanikis

Discussion Points

• After watching the two videos what stuck with you? What was alarming? Why?
• What were some of the food/hunger challenges mentioned in the videos?
• Why is global trade so important to our food systems? What is the benefit of reducing trade barriers for the food system?
• If we reduce trade barriers for the food system is there the possibility for unintended consequences? Does this look different depending which country you call home? Explain your thoughts?

China Suspends Meat Imports from Some Processors

 There is no doubt that COVID-19 has disrupted our food systems. This week we take a look at the global impact that is occurring. We encourage you to read the linked article and utilize the discussion points below to further guide your conversations around the world.

Why is China suspending imports?

Discussion Points

• Why is there a concern for some meats being imported into China? 
• Is this a valid concern? Do some further investigating...what does the science say? Share your sources with your findings.
• How could these import suspensions impact the global meat supply? 
• Will these actions impact your home community or country? Why or why not?

Agriculture Foreign Market Impacts

Agriculture has such an important impact on our day to day lives, but sometimes we overlook the impact that agriculture can have on the world as a whole as we move about our busy lives. With this blog post we challenge you to think about how agriculture and foreign markets interact to impact trade and foreign policy. Utilize the short video linked, from the Chicago Council on global Affairs, below along with the discussion questions to engage with others on this important topic.

Wait Just a Minute: Dan Glickman

Discussion Points

• What stood out to you the most from the comments made in this video? Why?
• What is the current status of agricultural markets/trade around the globe with your home country and others? What are the impacts you are seeing at a global level? 
• How does agriculture trade impact you and your local community?

Canada and China Agriculture Relationship

China and United States trade talks have dominated agricultural trade news in the United States over the last year. But what is happening between Canada and China? This week we take a closer look at an article highlighting trade between Canada and Asian countries. You are encouraged to read through the linked article and utilize the discussion questions below to guide your conversations around the globe.

Canada Sees Asian Demand

Discussion Points

• What is the overall trade relationship and picture between Canada and Asian countries? Be specific.
• What factors have driven the picture you described above?
• How have events around the world impacted this trade relationship?
• How is this trade relationship impacting the rest of the world?

Cassava, Coffee, and Global Food Prices

When we think of agricultural commodities that are traded at a global level we often focus on what commodities we grow and raise locally. Often times we can lose site of the big picture when it comes to global commodities, trade, and prices. This week we feature an article from the FAO that highlights international agricultural commodity prices and what it means for trade and farmers and consumers around the globe. We encourage you to read the linked article and utilize the discussion points to guide you conversations in classrooms, coffee shops, and communities around the world.

Declining International Prices to Ease Food Import Burden for Poorest Countries 

Discussion Points

• What are overall worldwide trends in agriculture commodity and food prices? Who benefits? Who will face challenges?
• What are the trends with cassava globally? Depending on your location around the globe what roll does cassava play in your diet? Why or why not is it a popular crop in your area?
• Coffee is the widest traded tropical product in the world. What is the outlook for coffee trade and prices?
• Often times when we talk commodity prices we look at how farmers or consumers are impacted. Who else is impacted by commodity prices and trade outside of the farmer and consumer? How are these others impacted?

Trade Uncertainty

Agriculture trade is very important to countries around the globe. There are many things that can impact trade including countries imposing tariffs and quotas. This week there has been a lot of talk about tariffs being placed on products between China and the United States. The attached article gives a brief summary and includes a video explaining the current situation between China and the United States. We encourage you to watch the video, read the article, and utilize the discussion points below to guide conversations around the globe?

Tariffs for China and U.S. Goods

Discussion Points

• Explain what a tariff is. If you need to do additional research that is fine.
• Why is the U.S. considering tariffs on China? Why is China considering tariffs on the U.S.?
• What is the potential impact to agriculture in the two countries (markets, supply, etc.)?
• How might this "trade war" impact your home country? Your home state?
• How might this situation impact countries around the world besides China and the United States?

Discussion tip: Note that the discussion points above do not include any political figures or parties. Try to keep the discussion to trade policy and agriculture markets.

U.S. and Japan Beef Trade

Agriculture products are traded around the world and are very important to agriculture markets and farmers bottom lines. This week we take a look at the relationship between Japan and the United States on trade, specifically Beef. We encourage you to look over the attached article and utilize the discussion points below to guide conversations in your classrooms, coffee shops, and communities around the world!

U.S. Urges Japan to Eliminate Import Restrictions on U.S. Beef

Discussion Points

• What is the history of beef trade between Japan and the United States?
• What trade agreements does your home country have with others? Why are these trade agreements so important?
• Recently I moderated a panel of agriculture experts who stressed the importance of building positive relationships with other countries to strengthen trade agreements. In your opinion what are the best ways to build strong relationships with other countries?
• What are your predictions on the future of U.S. beef imports into Japan and why?

Trade War to Trade Deal

Recently China and the United States struck a new trade deal that will look to open up the movement of beef, natural gas, and cooked chicken. I encourage you to read through the linked article that shares some of the details of the recent trade talks. At the bottom of the article there is a five minute video clip of analysts looking closer at the trade deal and bringing up some intriguing points. We encourage you to explore the article and video and use the discussion points below to guide your conversations.

China, US Reach Agreement

Discussion Points

• What are the initial details of this trade agreement? 
• To you what is the most significant part of this trade agreement and why?
• Why have some cautioned against immediate excitement over the trade deal?
• Give your predictions of this trade deal. What will be the impact of beef, pork, and/or natural gas prices in your home country for the consumer and producers? Explain and justify your reasonings.

From Sea to Plate

Did you know that keeping illegally captured fish off supermarket shelves is a problem around the world? This is a challenge that is facing the fishing/seafood industry and one of the heaviest traded commodities in the world. We encourage you to read the linked article and then utilize the discussion points provided below to guide conversations around the globe.

Tracking Fish Through the Global Supply Chain

Discussion Points

• Why is it so important to track and monitor the sale and trade of seafood products around the world?
• Explain what is being proposed to help protect against illegal, unprotected and unreported fishing. 
• Why is international buy-in so crucial to this initiative? 
• Which countries have led the way by already adopting similar initiatives? How can buy-in be increased globally in your opinion?

Farmers Push Trans-Pacific Partnership

This week we take a look at an article that highlights corn producers efforts to push the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) through congress. It shares where things stand with the TPP, why there is the push, and what challenges lie ahead. Read the linked article and then utilize the discussion questions to guide your conversations.

Corn Farmers Push Congress to Pass TPP

Discussion Points

• Why is the TPP a positive thing for American farmers?
• Why are farmers so concerned with getting the passage of the TPP now rather than later?
• What could the passage of the TPP mean to the rest of the world?
• Do some additional research. Where do the current presidential candidates stand in regards to the TPP?

Vietnam and the United States: The Possibilities

If you have been around agriculture and trade discussions lately you are well aware of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement that is in the works. This is something that many in agriculture in the United States wish was already in place due to the markets it would open. The linked article is a report from the USDA that highlights the opportunities that are availability for trade between Vietnam and the United States. After reading the linked article use the discussion points below to guide conversations in your classrooms and communities around the world!

TPP: New Opportunities for Vietnam and the U.S.

Discussion Points

• What are the advantages to both Vietnam and the United States if the TPP agreement happens?
• If the TPP agreement fails what is likely to happen with the trade relations between Vietnam and the United States considering other factors mentioned in this article?
• How would the TPP agreement affect the following groups if it gets put into place?
• Agriculture producers in the United States
• Agriculture producers in Vietnam
• Consumers in the United States
• Consumers in Vietnam
• Who and why might someone be against the TPP agreement?
• Pick out one specific area (livestock, horticulture, or grains and oil seeds) mentioned in the article and analyze more in depth the impacts of TPP. Share your findings with others.  

Do a little more research: Give us an overall summary of the TPP agreement.

• How long has this been in the works?
• What countries does it involve?
• What is overall public perception regarding the agreement?

Egypt Wheat Dilemma

Currently wheat trade has been halted with Egypt due to numerous reasons. The linked article below takes a look at why this has happened and the implications that it is having. We encourage you to read over the article below and start conversations with the discussion points provided.

Egypt Wheat Trade

Discussion Points

• What factors have caused wheat trade with Egypt to halt?
• What effects has this had on wheat prices and supplies around the world?
• Why do many believe that Egypt cannot continue to afford this wheat standoff?
• What does wheat crop and supply look like globally right now? What does this mean for Egypt and the rest of the world?
• Why is international trade important to all countries worldwide?