Ag Policy Blog

Ag Lauds Senate Vote on Trade

Todd Neeley
By  Todd Neeley , DTN Staff Reporter
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U.S. agriculture industry groups came out in full support of U.S. Senate action Thursday that moves one step closer to giving the Obama administration trade promotion authority on a Pacific trade deal.

The Senate voted 78-20 Thursday to pass a bill that addresses currency manipulation and other important trade issues. That bill moves to the full U.S. House of Representatives. The action moves Congress closer to voting on trade promotion authority legislation next week, after all indications were earlier this week that Democrats would hold up proceedings.

The National Milk Producers Federation and U.S. Dairy Export Council said in a joint statement Thursday that the Senate action should allow for Congress to pass trade promotion authority legislation before Memorial Day.

"New trade promotion authority is crucial to securing well-negotiated trade agreements that open foreign markets to more U.S. dairy products," NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern said in a statement.

USDEC President Tom Suber said, "Knowing that a trade agreement will be considered by Congress under trade promotion authority paves the way to press our negotiating partners to make their best offers on the most sensitive issues. Clearly, dairy exports fall into that category and the U.S. needs all the tools it can muster to get the best possible deal."

TPA expired in 2007. The groups said the authority is important to the U.S. dairy industry because the United States now exports the equivalent of one-seventh of its milk production. "TPA is the vital pathway to concluding balanced trade agreements that can unlock future export opportunities, NMPF and USDEC said," according to a news release.

The American Farm Bureau Federation said in a statement that agriculture growth "depends on our ability to break down trade barriers and complete ambitious new trade agreements.

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"We thank the Senate for moving the debate forward and proceeding to consider the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015. This legislation is critical to making progress on pending negotiations and promises to expand opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports.

"We urge the Senate to approve this TPA legislation to secure the future of agricultural trade."

National Corn Growers Association President Chip Bowling said in a statement that farmers are ready to respond to opportunities that come about as a result of trade promotion authority.

"Thank you to the bipartisan group of senators who voted to take up trade promotion authority legislation," he said. "Trade is essential to the livelihoods of American farmers, as well as the one million people whose jobs depend on agricultural trade. TPA legislation is critical to removing trade barriers, expanding our access to global markets, and ensuring farmers get the best possible deal in trade agreements.

"American farmers are stepping up to meet the growing demand for our products abroad. Now we're asking Congress to step up and pass trade promotion authority as quickly as possible."

During a news conference on Capitol Hill Thursday, California Farm Bureau President Paul Wenger addressed the urgent need for trade promotion authority. U.S. farmers and ranchers exported more than $152 billion in farm goods in 2014. "But that growth is at serious risk due to non-scientific standards and high tariffs around the world," AFBF said in a news release.

"For America's farmers and ranchers to see continued export growth, we must pen deals that knock down trade barriers," Wenger said.

The U.S. has not completed a new trade agreement since 2011.

AFBF said in a news release that farmers and ranchers need TPA "now to complete important trade negotiations and open new markets around the world. Congress and the administration must work together to shape and set priorities based on actual business conditions. With TPA, Congress provides valuable oversight to the trade agreement process while the administration represents our priorities before other countries."

American Soybean Association First Vice President Richard Wilkins said in a new release Thursday that trade promotion authority is the engine that helps farmers tap into markets.

"ASA is pleased to see the Senate move toward a vote on TPA," he said. "The passage of the bill by the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee shows that there is support on both sides of the aisle to get a deal done, and we've already seen both parties come together to address their differences. That signals, to us at least, that we're making progress.

"We can't conclude agreements expeditiously without trade promotion authority. In the immediate term, this means the Trans-Pacific Partnership with our partners along the Pacific Rim. In the future, it means agreements with Europe and a broad range of new partners. The bill gives USTR the ability to get the best deal possible for American farmers, and it provides Congress the oversight it needs to ensure each agreement works for everyone."

In 2014 the U.S. exported some $30.5 billion in soybeans, soybean meal and soybean oil. Between 2000 and 2010, the value of U.S. oilseed and product exports more than doubled from $9 billion to more than $20 billion.

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tom vogel
5/15/2015 | 8:51 AM CDT
You better watch what you ask for...you just might get it! This trade proposal is literally under lock and key! Only two republicans have read the proposal, and those two claimed they really didn't understand the proposal. If it is such a great proposal, then why is it guarded even to the point where readers can't even take notes? The republicans, who have left their brains in their home areas, are being hoodwinked thinking this proposal is all about "free trade." I don't think it is all that "free."