U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has rejected a United Nations agriculture declaration adopted on July 17, citing its promotion of “divisive social policies.” The move comes as the White House plans to seek international backing for a proposed “freedom of expression” declaration at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September.
Paul Welcher, an officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, stated that the administration has decided to disengage from the UN’s Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Livestock Transformation because its inclusion of climate change, gender equality, and sustainability goals distracts from the core tactical elements within the Food and Agriculture Organization’s mandate.
The rejected declaration, finalized by delegates on July 17, advises countries on issues including biodiversity, animal welfare, emissions reduction, and disease prevention.
Separately, the administration has begun circulating a draft of a joint declaration that would condemn “new laws” and “regulatory frameworks” it claims endanger free speech in “historically democratic countries.” The document is intended to be signed by heads of state during an event adjacent to the September UN General Assembly.
This initiative follows criticism of the European Union’s Digital Services Act, a law enacted in 2022 that regulates online platforms and has been described by U.S. lawmakers as a “comprehensive digital censorship law.”
