The U.S. dairy industry is urging governors from 25 dairy-producing states to take action against a policy by Canada that they say could hinder trade of dairy products between the U.S. and Canada. In a letter to the 25 states, 17 dairy companies said: “Canada plans to proceed with expanding its harmful use of dairy policies to impede trade by implementing a new national ingredients strategy pricing program.” The program, starting today (February 1), will allow domestic processors to purchase skim milk powder, liquid skim milk, liquid milk protein concentrates and other products at the lowest market price in the U.S., EU and Oceania for the next seven years, according to Politico. Last month, U.S. dairy organizations and state departments of agriculture across the country sent a similar letter to President Donald Trump that said Canada’s protectionist policies are in direct violation of its trade commitments under the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization.

The U.S. seed industry has concerns regarding a border tax President Donald Trump wants to impose to fund a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. While attending the American Seed Trade Association’s Vegetables and Flower Seed Conference in Orlando, Florida, ASTA CEO Andy Lavigne told the Hagstrom Report the tax could burden the seed industry. He says: “A great deal of seed is multiplied in Mexico,” referring to the industry practice of developing seed in the United States and then sending it to Mexico to be grown in the quantities needed in America. Mexico’s climate primarily drives the practice. He also noted that many ASTA American customers grow fruits and vegetables in Mexico and import them into the United States. He says ASTA is still trying to “determine” its position on the border tax.

Germany asked the European Union last week to speed-up trade talks to open trade with more than a dozen countries. The effort is aimed at boosting support for free trade in response to protectionist trade policy from U.S. President Donald Trump. In a statement to the EU, Germany repeated its view that Trump, along with Britain leaving the EU, posed risks for the world economy, according to Reuters. Germany called on the EU to bolster common policies in defense, diplomacy and the economy. Germany also asked the EU to push against trade protectionism and support free trading relationships and “international cooperation.” In his first week as President, Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Trump is also targeting reforms to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The United Kingdom says U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to start trade talks between the U.K. and the United States. British Prime Minister Theresa May says the two agreed to start preliminary talks on a trade deal but stressed that no deal would be signed until the U.K. exits the European Union. Politico reports the two leaders agreed to set up joint working groups to start “scoping out” what can be achieved while waiting for the United Kingdom to leave the EU. The signal of bilateral talks continues Trump’s campaign pledge of one-on-one trade deals with other nations. Trump on Friday said he looked forward to working with the United Kingdom. U.K. Prime Minister May said both sides were discussing a “trade negotiation agreement” as the first step of crafting a trade deal between the two countries. The wording suggests there will be an official pledge between May and Trump to negotiate a trade agreement once the United Kingdom leaves the EU.

An executive order by President Donald Trump to suspend refugee arrivals could harm meatpacking companies. The Wall Street Journal reports meatpackers that rely on foreign-born workers to fill tough jobs in rural America could face labor shortages. The executive order suspended the refugee program four months and would cut the number of refugees allowed into the United States in half to 50,000. The move comes as dozens of meatpackers are expanding or building new facilities, following two years of high profits. Meatpackers often look for foreign-born workers to fill jobs most Americans are unwilling to perform. North American Meat Institute CEO Barry Carpenter says he hopes the Trump administration “will give careful consideration” the impact these changes would have on meatpacking companies, and on foreign-born workers “who are eager to build new lives in America” through the jobs meatpackers can offer.

A resolution honoring Iowa pork producers passed the state’s House of Representatives with bipartisan support last week. The “Fry Moore Bacon” resolution received laughs from lawmakers as it was introduced by state representatives Joel Fry, Tom Moore and Rob Bacon, according to the Des Moines Register. Bacon said the bill is intended to address a serious issue, but he couldn’t resist adding his colleagues Fry and Moore to its list of sponsors. The resolution recognizes the Iowa Pork Congress, the largest winter swine trade show in the United States, as well as the pork industry as major economic drivers in the state. Iowa is the top pork-producing state in the U.S., creating an estimated $36.7 billion in total economic output. The resolution won unanimous support by lawmakers in the Iowa House of Representatives.

The global spread of bird flu is increasing concerns the viruses will be transferred to humans. Global infections of highly pathogenic avian influenza have reached unprecedented levels, according to Reuters. The presence in so many parts of the world at the same time increases the risk of viruses mixing and mutating, and possibly jumping to people. While the U.S. has escaped much of the recent outbreaks, widespread avian influenza has been confirmed across Europe, Africa and Asia in the last three months. Global health officials are worried another strain could make a jump into humans like H5N1 did in the late 1990s. Disease experts fear a deadly strain of avian flu could then mutate into a pandemic form that can be passed easily among people – something that has not yet been seen. But, while there would normally be around two or three bird flu strains recorded in birds at any one time, now there is at least half a dozen, which is prompting the fears.

Newly-inaugurated President Donald Trump has already followed through with key campaign promises related to trade policy – moves that have caused concern among grain farmers whose price is being supported by export sales. Trump withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and intends to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. The U.S. Grains Council says these moves are intended to pave the way for new negotiations. However, in the short term – and coming soon after serious trade policy issues with China – they could severely curtail U.S. grain farmers’ market access globally and open up existing export markets to new levels of competition. Over the past two decades, U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico tripled and quintupled, respectively, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. One in every 10 acres on American farms is planted to feed hungry Canadian and Mexicans. The Grains Council says its leadership will continue to assess all trade policy changes by the new administration and aim to work with the Administration to maintain and expand the benefits of existing or new trade dialogues.