During a weekend vote, the United States Senate confirmed Luke Lindberg as the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs by a 77-18 margin.
“I congratulate Luke Lindberg on his confirmation. He will be a tireless advocate for restoring American agriculture’s global competitiveness and delivering results for producers across the country. I look forward to working with Under Secretary Lindberg as we continue to support the success of rural America and strengthen our agricultural economy,” said Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Arkansas.
The appointment marks Lindberg’s return to a leadership position with the federal government. He previously served as chief of staff and chief strategy officer at the Export-Import Bank of the United States from June 19 until Jan 2021.
Lindberg most recently led South Dakota Trade, a public–private partnership focused on expanding international market access for regional exporters.
Lindberg’s confirmation by the U.S. Senate was in limbo for approximately six and a half months. He was nominated for the position on January 20, following the resignation of the then Under Secretary, Alexis Taylor, according to a White House press release.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins applauded the U.S. Senate for confirming Lindberg.
“We are thrilled to have Luke join our team and I have full faith that his drive and deep experience will ensure we not only defend our producers, but also open new doors to global trade,” said Rollins. “At USDA we are ensuring American agriculture will be strong, secure, and resilient by safeguarding our food supply, strengthening critical infrastructure, and defending U.S. agricultural innovation from foreign adversaries. Luke will be critical to this core mission.”
Industry groups react
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall, in a statement, said AFBF welcomes Lindberg to his new role at USDA, as he will be guiding decisions that impact agricultural trade.
“Rarely has there been such an active time when it comes to trade discussions and impacts to American farmers, so Luke certainly has his work cut out for him,” said Duvall. “Luke's experience working to expand international markets and ensure U.S. farmers get a fair shake will serve USDA and our country well. We look forward to working with him in this new capacity."
Constance Cullman, president and CEO of the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), issued the following statement following the Senate vote on Capitol: “Lindberg brings a deep understanding of global trade and a strong track record of advocating for American agriculture.
“His leadership comes at a critical time, and we’re confident he will be a powerful voice in opening new markets, strengthening trade relationships and advancing the competitiveness of U.S. agricultural exports, which include animal food. We look forward to working closely with him in support of our nation’s producers and animal food manufacturers.”
U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom said he was pleased that Lindberg’s nomination had “a strong showing of bipartisan support.”
“This is a critical time for agricultural trade and Mr. Lindberg brings great passion and extensive experience to this role. He has a proven track record as a champion for U.S. agriculture and USMEF looks forward to working with him to expand global demand for U.S. red meat,” said Halstrom.
The North American Renderers Association (NARA) emphasized the role of USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP), Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) to help American renderers compete globally. For over 50 years, NARA said it has leveraged these programs to bring U.S. rendered products to key markets worldwide.
“With exports of rendered animal proteins accounting for nearly 30% of U.S. production, these USDA initiatives are vital,” said Kent Swisher, NARA president & CEO. “Luke’s proven ability to expand trade makes him an exceptional choice to lead these efforts at USDA.”
