|
Perdue, 70,
served on Trump's agricultural advisory committee during his
presidential campaign. His nomination, which must be confirmed
by the Republican-led Senate, will complete Trump's proposed
cabinet just before he is sworn in as president on Friday.
By nominating a former governor from a Southern state, Trump
eschewed candidates from major Farm Belt states in the Midwest
that produce the bulk of crops such as corn, soybeans and wheat
which dominate agriculture exports. Georgia is a key producer of
crops such as cotton and peanuts.
While Georgia governor, Perdue had to handle a severe drought in
2007, during which he took steps to cut water usage and at one
point led a service outside the state capitol to pray for rain.
Perdue, a Republican, was elected twice as governor, serving
from 2003 to 2011. Before that, he was in the state senate
representing a rural swath of the state about 100 miles (160 km)
south of Atlanta. He switched political parties from Democratic
to Republican in 1998 amid redistricting in the state and
shifting demographics.
Trump received strong support from the agricultural community as
the farm economy slumped amid falling prices for key
commodities.
Ron Moore, president of the American Soybean Association (ASA),
said he thought Perdue would support agriculture exports.
"I think he will be very much in favor of trade," Moore said in
a telephone interview. The ASA, with 15 other farm groups, this
month urged the incoming administration to "protect and enhance"
agricultural trade and its impact on the rural economy.
Trade, a signature issue during the campaign in which Trump
accused China of unfair practices, is critical for the farm
economy. U.S. farm and food exports to China were more than
$20.2 billion in 2015.
Prices for soybeans rose 16.2 percent during 2016 on strong
demand from China, which buys nearly 30 percent of the U.S.
crop. Soybean exports helped boost U.S. gross domestic product
in the third quarter.
Some farmers are concerned that Trump's criticism of China could
lead to deteriorating trade relations and put exports at risk.
An influential Chinese state-run newspaper warned this week that
U.S. agricultural imports and U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing
Co could be targets for retaliation in any trade war ushered in
by Trump.
Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau, praised
Perdue as a strong voice.
But environmental groups opposed the nominee.
"Farmers need a champion in the USDA who will fight for
conservation programs to help farmers be more resilient in the
face of extreme weather, not pray for rain," Kari Hamerschlag,
deputy director of food and technology at Friends of the Earth,
said in a statement.
After finishing his second term as governor, Perdue founded
Perdue Partners, a global trading firm that consults and
provides services for companies looking to export products.
His cousin David Perdue is serving his first term representing
Georgia in the U.S. Senate. The nominee is not related to
chicken magnate Frank Perdue.
(Reporting by Steve Holland; Additional reporting by Tim Ryan in
Washington and Mark Weinraub in Chicago; Editing by Peter Cooney
and Richard Borsuk)
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
