China has issued a list of concessions that it says can help deliver a “win-win” trade relationship with America. The list is part of a 117-page document released Thursday by the Ministry of Commerce. China would like to improve infrastructure cooperation with the U.S. and accept greater imports of goods ranging from soybeans to aircraft. The report acknowledges the Trump Administration’s grievances with China and with globalization, urging “balanced development” of trade ties in future talks. A 100-day review of the bilateral trade relationship is due to finish up in July. A deal earlier this month allows more U.S. access into the Chinese market for beef, natural gas, and financial services. China would like to increase imports of agricultural products like soybeans and cotton. It would also like to speed up negotiations with the U.S. on traceability, inspection, and quarantine procedures on U.S. beef to be sold in the Chinese market. Bloomberg said the 117-page paper could be seen as China indicating a more stable negotiating environment between the two countries. In return, on the “ask” list, the report argues that the U.S. should stop using the so-called alternative state approach when calculating dumping margins in WTO trade disputes. That would be a big step that could push China toward being considered a market economy by its major trading partners.

The U.S. Senate passed legislation designed to address the potential threat of agro-terrorism and keep the American food supply safe. Ag Committee Chair Pat Roberts co-sponsored the legislation in the Senate and says an attack on the nation’s food supply would cause irreparable damage. “This legislation reaffirms the important role for the Department of Homeland Security in preventing agro-terrorism,” Roberts said. “Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and the spread of any deadly pathogen among our livestock and plant populations would be deadly,” House Republican Dan Donovan introduced similar legislation in the House, saying “This bill is essential to enhancing our preparedness against possible agro-terrorism and our emergency response measures. The Securing our Agriculture and Food Act requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs, to lead the government’s efforts to secure our nation’s food, agriculture, and veterinary systems against terrorism and high-risk events. The bill also authorizes the Secretary to collaborate with other agencies to ensure food, agriculture, and animal and human health sectors receive attention and are integrated into the DHS’s domestic preparedness policy initiatives. After House consideration, the bill would head to the president’s desk for his signature.

The Senate Ag Committee heard testimony last week from several economists on the challenges that currently exist in farm country. The Hagstrom Report says Republican Ag Chair Pat Roberts of Kansas and Ranking Democrat Debbie Stabenow of Michigan both came to the same conclusion: no more cuts for farm bill programs. At what he described as the first farm bill hearing in Washington, Roberts did say the nation’s debt is approaching $20 trillion. However, he said between the savings from the last farm bill and the Ag Department’s crop insurance negotiation, “everyone on this committee thinks agriculture has already given at the store.” Roberts emphasized the importance of producers having risk management tools at their disposal. “Let me emphasize that crop insurance is the most valuable tool in the risk management toolbox,” he said. Stabenow focused more on the proposed Trump budget released earlier this week, saying, “It cuts crop insurance by $29 billion which would take away a critical part of the farm safety net when it’s needed most.” A panel of economists and Ag business members testified that economic conditions for farmers and ranchers continue to get worse, but it’s still not as bad as the farm crisis of the 1980s.

New documents released by the National Pork Producers Council Thursday show the benefits of the North American Free Trade Agreement to the U.S., Canada and Mexico. NPPC released a white paper that focuses primarily on trade with Mexico and makes the case for not abandoning the 23-year-old pact. The paper also argues for not disrupting trade in sectors for which the agreement has worked well, including U.S. pork. Mexico is the number two export market for U.S. pork, and Canada is number four. For all U.S. goods and services, Canada and Mexico are the top two destinations, accounting for more than one-third of total U.S. exports, adding $80 billion to the U.S. economy and supporting more than 14 million American jobs. For U.S. agriculture, Canada and Mexico are the second and third largest foreign markets. They imported more than $38 billion of U.S. products in 2016, or 28 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports. Those exports generated more than $48 billion in additional business activity throughout the economy and supported nearly 287,000 jobs.

A fact sheet released by the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Ranking Democrat highlights the expected impact of President Donald Trump’s proposed budget on agriculture. The fact sheet claims that President Trump is “turning his back on rural America.” Released by Senate Democrat Debbie Stabenow’s office, the fact sheet says cuts included in the proposal to crop insurance and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, hurts farmers and families. She says other cuts to conservation programs also harm land and water resources. The budget proposal would cut $29 billion from crop insurance while laying off 5,200 Agriculture Department employees. The budget would also cut $193 billion from SNAP and eliminate some conservation programs. The fact sheet by Senator Stabenow’s office says “this budget would make a five-year farm bill impossible to pass.”

A financial expert forecasted to lawmakers Thursday the current agriculture economic conditions will continue. During a Senate Agriculture Committee on the rural economy, Nathan Kauffman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City informed the committee that a farm crisis does not appear imminent, but there are still risks that could lead to more widespread challenges in the coming years. He noted the downturn began in 2013 during a sharp drop in commodity prices that has lingered. He says reduced profitability in agriculture has gradually intensified the level of financial stress among farm borrowers. Kauffman expects the trends to continue in the near term as global supplies are likely to continue to weigh on agricultural commodity prices and profit margins.

The American agriculture industry relies on foreign workers, especially at harvest time. The website Eater Dot Com reports a group of Democrats has introduced legislation that would give farm workers some protection from possible deportation. The bill is called the Agricultural Worker Program Act of 2017 (Senate Bill 1034). It would protect undocumented workers from deportation if they can prove a history of working in American agriculture. The bill may also provide them a path to long-term residence and citizenship. Workers that can prove 100 days of employment in American agriculture over the previous two years can apply for a blue card, which grants temporary residency and authorization to work, pending background checks. A blue cardholder that meets more stringent requirements may apply for a green card. Those who hold green cards for five years and meet other requirements may eventually apply for full citizenship.