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Farmers Union remains opposed to TPA, TPP

The National Farmers Union is once again calling on Congress to reject Trade Promotion Authority legislation.

Farmers Union says the legislation does not do enough to address the United States’ massive trade deficit or currency manipulation.

John Hansen, NFU treasurer and president of Nebraska Farmers Union, says they also have a problem with the entire concept of TPA.

“It really does tie the hands of Congress, so that it’s a straight-up, 30-day, take it or leave it proposition,” Hansen says. “We think that we need more eyes on what we’re doing and Congress needs to roll up its sleeves and do its job.”

Hansen says Farmers Union also opposes the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement because it fails to address the issues of currency manipulation and value added taxes (VAT).

“Currency manipulation is a known problem and the VAT is a known problem,” he says, “and yet we don’t have a mechanism to be able to equalize between those countries who use those mechanisms to keep their markets closed to U.S. interests.”

The TPA bill has passed through committees in both houses and now heads to the floor in each chamber. Timing is uncertain, but Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch has said he wants the Senate to act on it in May.

AUDIO: John Hansen