76 / SEEDWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER 2017 Exploring ideas and views on all aspects of the seed industry. MEXICO REMAINS POSITIVE ABOUT NAFTA TALKS The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has benefited both U.S. and Mexican agriculture, and Mexico is optimistic about the prospects of modernizing the trade agreement, according to Mexican Ambassador Gerónimo Gutiérrez, who spoke to corn farmers at the National Corn Growers Association’s semiannual meeting. “Our agricultural trade through NAFTA has been a success for all parties,” he said. “The challenge is that none of us should stay in our comfort zone. If we want to achieve a win-win trade modernization, we must keep active. There is no guaranteed outcome.” Ambassador Gutiérrez expressed a strong desire to continue strengthening agricultural trade between the U.S. and Mexico, but he also acknowledged that Mexico must keep its options open and is looking to other markets to secure his nation’s grain supply. In mid July, the Trump Administration released its NAFTA negotiating objectives ahead of modernization talks, which are scheduled to begin later this summer. REP. NEWHOUSE WORKS TO IMPROVE AG LABOR CRISIS Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) led the effort in the appropriations process to address agriculture’s labor crisis. Newhouse made two amendments in House Appropriations Committee markups of fiscal year 2018 government funding bills that would help reform the H-2A visa program. The first would allow ag employers to use Section 514 housing for both domestic and H-2A workers where units are currently unoccupied. Section 514 provides loans to producers to buy, build or improve housing for farm workers but those admitted through H-2A are currently ineligible. The second would amend the H-2A program to allow employers to use it for work that is not temporary or seasonal. This would give producers with year-round labor needs a new option as they look to fill jobs on their farms. Members of the Agricultural Workforce Coalition applauded Newhouse for his efforts. CHINESE DELEGATION SIGNS SORGHUM LETTERS OF INTENT At an event hosted by the U.S. Soybean Export Council in Des Moines, Iowa, a Chinese delegation signed a letter of intent to continue purchasing U.S. sorghum. David Fremark, chairman of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, provided opening comments on behalf of the sorghum industry, noting how important the Chinese market is for U.S. sorghum farmers. Chinese sorghum purchases have created market opportunities in Japan, Mexico and other countries with total exports accounting for 40 percent of sorghum’s total market share. Since entering the marketplace in 2013, sorghum exports to China are expected to exceed 1 billion bushels in the next marketing year. “The challenge is that none of us should stay in our comfort zone … There is no guaranteed outcome.” — Gerónimo Gutiérrez