In the first 100 days of President Trump’s administration, he has signed 33 Executive Orders and 27 Presidential Memoranda. Both have the same legal weight, but have different processes for issuance. Many of these documents will have no impact on the California Almond industry. However, some will and some have already. One of the first Presidential Memoranda released was the withdrawal of the United States from the Trans Pacific Partnership, an agreement supported by many agricultural commodities.
The Executive Orders (EO) have covered many areas, but a few that we are watching include the recent EO creating an interagency task force led by our new Agriculture Secretary, Sonny Perdue, to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes to promote economic development, job growth, infrastructure improvements, technological innovation, energy security and quality of life in rural America. It’s a big task, and it will be interesting to see the recommendations submitted.
A similar EO was signed enlisting several cabinet members to review existing trade agreements to identify violations or abuses; unfair treatment by partners that is harming American workers; and where agreements have failed to create jobs, result in favorable trade balance, expand markets, lower trade barriers or increase U.S. exports; and then to provide lawful and appropriate actions to remedy or correct these deficiencies. Trade agreements provide different benefits, depending on the sector. For example, ag crops like almonds may be impacted by phytosanitary requirements, but that might not be relevant for the manufacturing sector or intellectual property. Almond growers benefit from expanded access to export markets, which brings jobs to the Central Valley and creates stable demand for increased almond production.
Clearly, it will be important to monitor these discussions and how they may impact the almond industry.
