USA Rice’s Bachmann Named to USTR, USDA Trade Advisory Committee

WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue jointly appointed 25 new members to serve on seven agricultural trade advisory committees through 2024, including Peter Bachmann, USA Rice vice president, international trade policy.

Bachmann was named to the Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee for Trade in Grains, Feed, Oilseeds and Planting Seeds, replacing Bob Cummings who retired from USA Rice last year but remained an active member on the Committee until new appointments were made last week.

The committees are made up of industry trade policy representatives from across all agricultural sectors who provide advice to federal agencies regarding agricultural trade provisions within existing and pending trade agreements on both a broad and sector-specific level.  The committees typically meet annually or semi-annually in-person and frequently by phone for confidential briefings.  

“I see this as an opportunity to ensure that the collective voice of U.S. rice farmers, millers, and merchants is heard loud and clear in Washington both before and during U.S. government trade negotiations,” said Bachmann.  “In trade agreements, details are everything, and while there are many skilled staff at both USTR and USDA, they rely on the trade advisory committees to ensure they get the details right.”

USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward agrees.  “Trade is such a vital part of our domestic rice industry’s business and it’s even more important now, given the active and planned negotiations with several countries where U.S. rice exports could be impacted.  As an advisor on ag trade, Peter will represent U.S. rice interests and provide policy makers with the latest, most accurate industry information available.”

In addition to representation on the grain sector’s technical advisory committee, USA Rice is also represented on the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee by Arkansas rice farmer and former USA Rice chair, Dow Brantley.