The food sector gets ready for the Biden administration
WASHIINGON: Associations for the food, restaurant, and agriculture sectors congratulated President-elect Joe Biden on his win and reaffirmed their resolve to collaborate with Congress and the incoming administration to address urgent issues for the American people, chief among them being the need to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, which is still posing a threat to lives and economies.
The pandemic has devastated the country’s restaurant business. While praising Mr. Biden’s election, the National Restaurant Association stated that the federal government could not afford to hold off on helping consumers and businesses until inauguration day.
According to Tom Bené, president and chief executive officer, “so far, 100,000 restaurants of all types have closed across the country, and another 40% are unlikely to make it through the winter without additional relief from the federal government.” “We request that Congress back plans that provide small businesses and eateries around the nation with urgent relief. Thousands of eateries will close without this help before a long-term solution is even contemplated.
As part of the food and agriculture critical infrastructure designation put in place by the Trump administration, executives of the American Bakers Association stated in a podcast on November 16 that maintaining the industry’s essential workforce status will be one of their top priorities in the incoming Biden administration. The title hasenabled vital industries to continue operating throughout the pandemic.
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“We have begun informing the Biden transition team of the significance,” stated ABA President and CEO Robb MacKie. “We must keep up that infrastructure over the winter and the transitional time. It is imperative that we safeguard the vital laborers in our sector so that our members may keep the nation fed.In a letter to business leaders, Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the Consumer Brands Association, stated that it is expected that there will be “clear policy shifts in regulation and the federal response to COVID-19, but tremendous uncertainty on the legislative front” due to Mr. Biden’s election, a smaller Democratic majority in the House of Representatives, and Senate control up for grabs until two election runoffs in Georgia in January.
According to Mr. Freeman, “our greatest opportunity is seizing areas where we align with the new political reality, but we must also be vigilant and play defense when necessary.”According to Mr. Freeman, he anticipates that the Biden administration will actively advance its views on what is in the best interests of customers.
Mr. Freeman stated, “We have a chance to use our experience to make sure government policies really reflect consumers’ needs.” “We can begin by identifying consumer protection policies, like regulating CBD and advancing digital disclosure, that manufacturers of consumer packaged goods (CPG) can support, and by urging the government to be a stronger partner in enforcing pro-consumer statutes and safeguards.”
According to Mr. Freeman, CBA members plan to offer “a thoughtful assessment of what essential industries of scale need from the federal government in order to provide for the American consumer” in addition to continuing to struggle with the day-to-day difficulties of the epidemic.He advised against the US abandoning international supply chains and trade agreements.
“We need to evaluate our supply chains to ascertain the benefits and drawbacks of increasing domestic sourcing and provide an informed viewpoint on feasible adjustments that could further the interests of consumers in the years to come,” he stated.
According to the National Grain and Feed Association, food and nutrition-related initiatives and challenges will receive more priority in the Biden administration’s agriculture and agricultural policy. It’s also possible that the incoming government would highlight how agriculture may play a more significant role in reducing climate change. Small-farm, organic, and locally farmed issues might be given more attention.Regarding trade, the NGFA stated that, in contrast to the Trump administration’s strategy of bilateral negotiations, it anticipates a return to a more multilateral approach to resolving trade problems.
According to the NGFA, in order to support attempts at economic recovery, the Biden administration may put forth major legislation allocating cash for infrastructure, such as roads, waterways, and rural broadband.
According to the NGFA, the Biden administration may prioritize regulations and enforcement over other measures when it comes to environmental protection and workplace safety. This may begin with an effort by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to establish a COVID-19 workplace safety standard.
Furthermore, the NGFA stated that it anticipates the Biden administration will use presidential executive orders—rather than laws and rulemakings—to achieve a number of its policy goals, especially if Republicans continue to hold a majority in the US Senate.