USDBC Outlines Priorities for Incoming Administration

Similar to the Presidential transition of 2016, over the past weeks USDBC has begun to outline policy priorities for the incoming Biden Administration. In early December we provided a one-page briefer for the Biden transition team together with our colleagues in the Food & Agricultural Dialogue For Trade coalition. Among other policy priorities, we outlined the importance of resolving the ongoing trade dispute and retaliatory tariffs with the EU, the importance of a trade agreement with the UK, and insisting on sound science in global import policy including reasonable tolerances (MRLs) for pesticides and herbicides. Last week we also signed off on a letter to the transition team on recommendations for U.S./Cuba policy together with the U.S. Agricultural Coalition for Cuba. Among other aspects, our recommendations focused on normalization of trade relations to Cuba and easing of travel restrictions back to 2017 levels, allowing for U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba. Now that several relevant Cabinet nominations have taken place, we will turn our attention to department-specific transition teams. Our goal is to get our priorities across early on so we can continue to follow up once appointments are confirmed and in place. If you would like to see a copy of either letter, please reach out.