US- CHINA TRADE TENSIONS? WHAT’s at stake for Central Wisconsin’s Agriculture?

With the U.S. imposing billions of dollars of new tariffs on Chinese imports and Beijing retaliating with tariff increases on June 1 on $60 billion worth of goods, largely agricultural, what will be the fallout in central Wisconsin?

A free public forum on June 18 will address the many areas impacted by the tariffs, including ginseng, dairy, corn and soybeans. Facing millions of dollars in lost revenue, what can these producers do to stay in business?

WIPPS is partnering with UW-Madison Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) to launch its inaugural “East Asia Now” series. This free public forum will focus on U.S.-China trade relations and its impact on agriculture in central Wisconsin – and beyond.

A new panelist, Bradley Pfaff, will be joining the discussion. Pfaff is secretary-designee for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Pfaff has spent most of his career working on behalf of Wisconsin farmers and rural residents at the local, state and national level. He has served as executive director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency.

The other panelists include:

Bradley Pfaff of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection

Dr. Ian Coxhead of UW Madison Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics

Don Radtke of Wisconsin Farm Bureau

Phil Karsting formerly with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service

Will Hsu of Hsu’s Ginseng

Moderator is Pam Jahnke of Wisconsin Farm Report Radio

When: June 18
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
Location: UW Center for Civic Engagement
625 Stewart Avenue
Wausau, WI
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

The panel discussion will feature national experts on agriculture and China’s economy, along with representatives of the state’s agriculture business affected by the trade tensions.

Panelists will discuss:

  • Current state of U.S.-China trade relations
  • Impact on the local and global economy
  • What we can expect going forward

FREE dairy, cranberry, and ginseng food samples will be available, including fresh cheese curds from Mullins Cheese and UW-Madison’s “Get the Scoop” ice-cream truck.

Also part of WIPPS 2019 Public Issues Series, this program is made possible through the support of Dean Dietrich and Kevin Hermening, two Wausau businessmen who are committed to open, nonpartisan dialogue.