Trade with China: Perdue expresses optimism, but no mention of fresh potatoes
Perdue on talks with China: “I think you’ll see a broad array of agricultural commodities. … I think you may see rice, beef, livestock, ethanol, DDGS.”
Perdue spoke with reporters during Commodity Classic in Orlando, Florida, on Friday, March 1. Perdue said he expects a lot more than just soybeans and grains to increase in trade from the U.S. to China if and when the two sides can reach a deal.
“I think you’ll see a broad array of agricultural commodities,” Perdue said. “Not only the cereals, feed grains, soybeans and sorghum, I think you may see rice, beef, livestock, ethanol, DDGS (distiller’s dried grains and solubles) — those kind of things.
A recent letter to President Donald Trump signed by 39 members of Congress urged him to include fresh potatoes in talks with China. It’s unknown if fresh potatoes — or any specialty crops — are on negotiators’ priority list. On Friday, Perdue only mentioned commodities.