Trade negotiations are starting to show signs of breakthroughs for farmers, President Donald Trump told a crowd of supporters in northeast Iowa last week.

The president said a new trade agreement with the European Union will open up markets for farmers, and added he’s close to a deal to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Trump also said a solution to allow year-round access for 15-percent ethanol (E15) gasoline blends is “very close” to happening.

“We just opened up Europe for you farmers. You’re not going to be too angry with Trump, I can tell you,” the president said at a roundtable at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, 1st District Rep. Rod ...