The weather and pests should be enough to worry farmers, but a bug of another sort is flexing its muscles in agricultural commodity markets.
Some trade analysts say the recent outbreak of coronavirus that was discovered in China and then spread to at least 15 countries — including the United States and Canada — might be of concern in international trade.
News reports include Chinese officials saying they might have difficulties meeting its purchasing commitments in the recently agreed-to Phase 1 trade deal with the United States. Trump Administration officials say that trade deal would include $40 billion in Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products during the next two years.
The biggest outbreak of the virus remains in China, where 5,900 illnesses with 132 deaths reported. Five cases have been reported in the United States; Canada has reported two cases. One of the confirmed cases was in Illinois.
Three University of Wisconsin-Platteville students who recently returned from a trip to China were watched for coronavirus symptoms, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison has announced the suspension of all student and staff trips to China.
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