California Farm Bureau Federation : In wake of TPP decision, Farm Bureau seeks improved agricultural trade (1/23/2017)

Jan. 23, 2017

Calling for continued efforts to break down barriers to agricultural trade, the California Farm Bureau Federation expressed disappointment today in President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.

"Trade in food and farm products benefits both rural and urban areas of California," CFBF President Paul Wenger said. "For example, farm products represent the top export from the Port of Oakland, and agreements such as the TPP would allow us to reach more potential customers in key Pacific Rim markets."

Wenger said he hopes the administration will follow up with policies aimed at opening foreign markets for American farm products.

"We operate in a world where it's much easier for crops from other nations to enter the U.S. than for American farm goods to be sold elsewhere," he said. "We will encourage the administration to work on smaller-scale agreements that would allow American farmers to trade with other nations on an equal basis."

Wenger noted the administration has also discussed reopening the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico.

"If NAFTA is reopened, its agricultural provisions should be left alone," he said. "We don't want successful agricultural trade to be caught in any conflict about other portions of the agreement."

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