News

NCBA official likes TPA’s chances in the House

An official of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says he expects Trade Promotion Authority to be passed by the House of Representatives.

“A lot of the public debates that needed to happen have already occurred, so I think that a lot of those questions have been answered and a lot of those concerns have been addressed,” says Kent Bacus, associate director of legislative affairs for NCBA. “So I think, by-and-large, you’re going to have pretty good support in the House.”

But Bacus says the House vote on TPA could still be a close one.

“I think that the votes that are in favor of trade and in favor of job growth for all of America are going to outweigh all of the opposition here,” he says. “I think we’re going to see trade promotion pass in the House, hopefully as soon as they get back from the Memorial Day recess.”

Bacus says the U.S. must continue to negotiate tariff elimination worldwide in order to grow demand for U.S. beef.  He says TPA will allow that to happen.

AUDIO: Kent Bacus