NCGA Supports Continued Work on Free Trade Agreements (7-28-06)

Though the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round talks are suspended, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) voices support for continuing bilateral free trade agreements and negotiations.

“Moving forward on the development of trade agreements with other countries means global prosperity and economic growth for those countries involved,” said Bob Bowman, NCGA’s chairman of the Joint Trade Policy A-Team. “Free trade agreements meet the needs of the global marketplace and ensure freer and fairer trade and competitiveness.”

Bowman noted NCGA supports trade promotion authority (TPA), the negotiating authority granted by Congress to allow a president to negotiate trade agreements. Under TPA, agreements—including bilateral and the WTO—are submitted by the administration to the Congress. The agreements are not amendable by Congress and must be approved by a majority of both the House and Senate. The current TPA expires in June 2007.

The United States is involved with numerous free trade agreements. Collectively, the agreements will allow the United States to export more than 15.673 million metric tons of corn and corn coproducts.

“Free trade agreements open markets for U.S. farmers and provide markets for value–added corn and corn coproducts,” Bowman said. “Whether it is negotiations in the WTO or free trade agreements, agriculture, farm policy and farm programs are affected by trade. Trade agreements are critical for our producers to remain competitive on an international scale.”

NCGA has provided an update on ongoing FTA’s. For information please click on following.