WASHINGTON — President Biden has announced his intent to nominate Doug McKalip as the Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
McKalip is in his 29th year of federal service as an agriculture policy leader and trade expert. Since March 2021, he has served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on all agricultural matters relating to trade, national security, animal and plant health regulations, and a wide portfolio of domestic and international issues.
His nomination to fill the Chief Agricultural Negotiator position was met with positive reaction from the agricultural community.
USDA Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack:
“Doug McKalip is highly qualified and exceptionally capable of serving the American people as Chief Agricultural Negotiator. Having served as a key agriculture policy official for nearly three decades, he has worked on every aspect of farming from soil conservation, and the supply chain to dealing with sensitive trade and national security matters. Through his service, he has represented American farmers around the world and advocated for U.S. agricultural products and technology.
Doug has been a key member of my team throughout my tenure as Secretary of Agriculture and has demonstrated a consistent ability to tackle difficult issues and to develop bi-partisan solutions to challenges when opposing views exist. These skills will serve him well as Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). We will miss having Doug here at USDA, but know that American agriculture and USTR will be well served by having him in this new role. I urge the U.S. Senate to confirm him at the earliest possible opportunity.”
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall:
“The American Farm Bureau Federation supports the nomination of Doug McKalip for the position of Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the U. S Trade Representative. He is a government professional with a wide experience in agricultural issues.
“It is crucial that this position be filled without further delay so existing agreements can be strengthened and new agreements with the European Union, Great Britain and in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework can be explored. We are ready to work with Mr. McKalip and Ambassador Tai to ensure a level playing field and advance the important work of expanding agricultural trade opportunities for America’s farmers and ranchers.”
U.S. Grains Council (USGC):
“Doug McKalip has extensive international experience and more than 28 years of government service at the USDA. He will be able to use his strong background in farm and trade policy and his knowledge of biotechnology to advance trade priorities and open markets for U.S. corn, sorghum, barley and co-products. Upon his confirmation, we look forward to working with him in his pivotal role at USTR.”
American Soybean Association:
Stephen Censky, ASA CEO, said, “U.S. agriculture faces numerous challenges on the global marketplace, and we are thrilled President Biden has nominated Doug McKalip to serve as Chief Agricultural Negotiator at USTR. Doug understands these challenges deeply from his years of service at USDA and in the White House, and ASA is glad to have that expertise added to the team at USTR. U.S. soybean growers are excited to work with Doug in his new role.”
National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF):
“Expanding U.S. agricultural export opportunities requires all hands on deck,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “The position of USTR’s Chief Agricultural Negotiator plays a central role in driving trade policy and expanding overseas markets for dairy products. Doug is an excellent choice given his strong background in agriculture, earned while serving in numerous positions within the White House and USDA. He brings an informed perspective on how to best drive policy and support American agriculture and he will be ready to lead from day one. NMPF encourages the Senate to confirm him without delay, so that he may hit the ground running.”
“Doug has spent a lifetime in service to America’s farmers and rural communities, and we are grateful for his dedication,” said Krysta Harden, USDEC president and CEO. “He has seen firsthand how opening new markets and lowering tariffs on American dairy products have been essential to the success or our farmers, manufacturers and workers. Additional market opportunities await American dairy, as global consumers reach for our high-quality, sustainably produced products when given the chance. As Chief Agricultural Negotiator, he will have the opportunity to help us continue to grow and thrive through exports, which today account for over 17% of domestic milk production.”
American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) President and CEO Constance Cullman:
“We are pleased to hear of Doug McKalip’s impending nomination as chief agricultural negotiator. His experience working at the White House and advising for the U.S. Department of Agriculture makes him an ideal candidate for representing and advocating on behalf of U.S. agricultural interests to expand export opportunities and maintain U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace.
We look forward to working with Mr. McKalip to leverage opportunities to tackle trade barriers and open new markets for the U.S. animal food industry.”
The U.S. animal food manufacturing industry relies heavily on trade. In 2021, U.S. animal feed and pet food manufacturers exported over $7.5 billion in products, including $5.5 billion in feed and feed ingredients and $2 billion in pet food products, a 22% increase in value over 2020. The industry’s exports support thousands of jobs across the feed industry and associated industries, and ensure that global farmers have access to the latest animal feed ingredients to help them produce food more efficiently and sustainably.
Brian Kuehl, Executive Director of Farmers for Free Trade:
“It’s encouraging that the Biden Administration has nominated Mr. McKalip for this critical position. The ag negotiator position is vital for opening export markets to Made-in-America food and ag and we hope the Senate moves swiftly on confirmation. We look forward to working with Mr. McKalip on the many opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, particularly as the U.S. pursues the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and considers tariff rollbacks.
“Mr. McKalip’s long service at USDA should prepare him well for fighting for the needs of our nation’s farm and food interests. We need aggressive action to open markets for American ag, particularly as we struggle to compete globally due to trade policies that have encouraged protectionism and erected too many barriers to trade. USTR knows well that U.S. farmers and ranchers export more than 20 percent of what they produce and that those exports are essential to their prosperity. We must continue to expand and protect American food and ag exports.”
Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative:
“Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative is pleased to see the Biden administration has selected a likely nominee for the key position of chief agricultural negotiator at USTR. This role is critical to growing new international markets for the food our farmers produce and to striking fair trade deals. These are essential to securing the long-term health of the dairy community. Doug McKalip’s experience in ag policy and trade at the Department of Agriculture will serve our farmers well. We look forward to supporting him in this mission.”
McKalip’s nomination will now be submitted to the Senate Finance Committee where his confirmation process will begin.
— Numerous Sources