Sep 14, 2021Almond Alliance’s Trevino nominated as chief agriculture negotiator
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai released the following statement Sept. 13 after President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Elaine Trevino as the Chief Agriculture Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
“Elaine Trevino understands the importance of America’s farmers and farming communities to the vitality of our economy. Her experience will help the Biden-Harris Administration craft durable trade policy that creates broad-based prosperity. Throughout her impressive career serving in leadership positions at the state and federal level, Elaine has developed strong relationships with key stakeholders and demonstrated a keen understanding of trade and agriculture policy. If confirmed as chief agriculture negotiator, Trevino would be the first woman of color and the first Latina in this critical position that will help USTR advance President Biden’s vision to increase American competitiveness and Build Back Better. I hope the U.S. Senate can quickly confirm her to fill this important role so she can get to work on behalf of the American people.”
Trevino is the president of the Almond Alliance of California (AAC), a member-based trade association that advocates on regulatory and legislative issues in areas of international trade, food safety, water quality and availability, crop protection, air quality, worker safety, supply chain and feed quality.
According to Tai’s statement, as the leader of an organization that advocates for California’s leading agricultural export, Trevino understands tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade and the importance of maintaining America’s strong trade agreements and global positioning. She has worked on advocating for funding for COVID-19 relief, addressing retaliatory tariffs, climate smart farming, public private partnerships for opening new markets and strengthening existing markets and addressing technical sanitary and phytosanitary barriers. Trevino works at the local and federal levels on addressing port congestion, supply chain disruptions and excessive costs.
Trevino served as a Deputy Secretary at the California Department of Food and Agriculture for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Governor Gray Davis. She was responsible for the oversight of the international export and trade programs, specialty crop block grant funding, division of marketing services, plant health and pest prevention and the statewide county fair network.
Trevino serves on USDA’s Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC). Born and raised in the Central Valley of California, Trevino has a long history of community service and has a great respect for agriculture and the value of the industry to the overall economy. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of California Berkeley and attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Trevino and her family currently reside in Sacramento, California.
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) statement
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented Sept. 13 on the nomination of Trevino for chief agricultural trade negotiator at the United States Trade Representative.
“AFBF is encouraged by President Biden’s nomination of Elaine Trevino as chief agricultural trade negotiator. Her strong roots in agriculture and her experience in America’s largest exporting state have prepared her for the challenges of representing the nation on trade issues.
“Opportunities to create new trade agreements with the European Union and Great Britain as well as expanding the China Phase 1 agreement make filling this position with the most qualified person extremely important. We look forward to working with Ms. Trevino to help ensure a level playing field and to create new avenues for farmers and ranchers to feed the world.”
California Farm Bureau president praises Trevino nomination
California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson on Sept. 14 applauded Biden’s decision to nominate Elaine Trevino as his top agricultural trade negotiator.
“California’s farmers and ranchers are extremely pleased with Elaine Trevino’s appointment as chief agricultural trade negotiator for the United States Trade Representative,” Johansson said in a news release. “She brings a real-life understanding of California farm communities and served in key leadership positions for both Democratic and Republican administrations. Her experience in the top agricultural production and export state in the nation gives her deep knowledge of how our nation should best navigate trade issues for the benefit of farm producers across America.”
The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 34,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of nearly 5.6 million Farm Bureau members.
Blue Diamond Growers welcome appointment
Blue Diamond Growers, a leading almond marketer and processor, applauded the nomination of Trevino for United States Trade Representative Chief Agriculture Negotiator.
“This welcomed announcement marks a wonderful appointment for U.S. trade policy and American agriculture,” a Blue Diamond news release stated.
“The knowledge and experience Trevino acquired as Deputy Secretary at the California Department of Food and Agriculture across two administrations brought skilled advocacy to the almond industry when she took the role as President of the Almond Alliance of California.
“Under Trevino, the Almond Alliance leveraged its industry’s economic value, commitment to stewardship and its 7,600 family growers to promote and protect almond farming in California. Her efforts brought needed attention to almonds and in turn all specialty crops garnering these farmers direct payment assistance from USDA for the first time when retaliatory tariffs were crippling their operations.”
Photo: Almond Alliance of California
