WASHINGTON — In a Jan. 6 letter to President-elect Donald J. Trump and Vice-President-elect Michael Pence, a coalition of 16 farmer organizations called on the incoming administration to protect and enhance the positive impact of agricultural trade on jobs and growth in rural America. The groups also noted the special importance of trading relationships with China, Canada and Mexico, U.S. farmers’ and ranchers’ first-, second- and third-largest export markets.
“We know that securing positive benefits for American farmers, ranchers and workers in trade will be a priority in your administration,” the groups stated. “This includes enforcing existing agreements so that other countries abide by their commitments, as well as expanding market access for U.S. producers through new agreements. As the Trump administration assembles its team and policies, U.S. agricultural trade interests must be maintained, not only in existing markets but by expanding access to new markets.”
The producer groups pointed out U.S. agricultural exports in fiscal year 2016 were nearly $27 billion to China, more than $24 billion to Canada and nearly $19 billion to Mexico.
“Disrupting U.S. agricultural exports to these nations would have devastating consequences for our farmers and the many American processing and transportation industries and workers supported by these exports,” the grower groups asserted.
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| Ron Moore, president of the American Soybean Association |
