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Former ag secretaries stump for TPA

Former U.S. ag secretaries representing administrations back to President Jimmy Carter are urging Congress to pass Trade Promotion Authority.  In an open letter to Congress, the former secretaries note that exports are highly beneficial to the ag economy.

“Trade agreements, as you know, are essential to help expand agricultural exports, as Secretary Vilsack pointed out, and this supports U.S. farmers, it supports U.S. jobs,” said Ann Veneman, who served agriculture secretary under President George W Bush, during a conference call facilitated by the USDA, “so it’s critical for the U.S. to negotiate with one voice and Trade Promotion Authority is essential for that to happen.”

Dan Glickman, who served as President Clinton’s agriculture secretary, said both support and opposition of TPA are bi-partisan, making passage “a long row to hoe.”

“If we were to let this go and not provide Trade Promotion Authority to give the President the leverage to negotiate the agreement, then it really will kind of move America into a secondary role, in terms of international trade,” said Glickman, also on the USDA conference call.

Failing to grant Trade Promotion Authority may effectively give another country a place that the U.S. would occupy at the negotiating table, said Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, hosting the conference call.

“If we don’t write the rules, if we don’t help write the rules or lead this effort, China will for sure,” said Vilsack.  “And those concerned about labor, environment or science based decision making, or market access, obviously the U.S. will not benefit if China writes those rules.”

In their letter to lawmakers, the former secretaries note that Trade Promotion Authority, or a similar authority, has been given to all previous presidents since Franklin Roosevelt.
The letter is signed by:

Secretary Ed Schafer (2008–2009)

Secretary Mike Johanns (2005–2007)

Secretary Ann Veneman (2001–2005)

Secretary Dan Glickman (1995–2001)

Secretary Mike Espy (1993–1994)

Secretary Clayton K. Yeutter (1989–1991)

Secretary John R. Block (1981–1986)

Secretary Robert Bergland (1977–1981)

AUDIO: Secretaries Vilsack, Veneman and Glickman (25 min. MP3)

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