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NPPC ‘very disappointed’ in TPP withdrawal

The president of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) says he’s “very disappointed” with the decision to pull out of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).

NPPC president John Weber of Dysart, Iowa says the pork industry worked hard to make sure TPP would be good for pork producers.  But while they’re disappointed, Weber says “all is not lost”.

“We haven’t lost anything that we currently have. But we lost opportunity,” Weber says. “We are optimistic that we can work with this new administration in developing, perhaps, bilateral agreements or some other combination of those Asia-Pacific countries and regions. And, believe me, we’re going to be involved in that and hopefully gain market access for pork.”

An even bigger concern right now, Weber says, is the renegotiation of NAFTA—the North American Free Trade Agreement.

“It’s like treading on thin ice,” he says. “It’s going to have to be smooth and gentle process if they’re going to massage trade with both Canada and Mexico—or agriculture could be in big trouble in a hurry.”

While the trade issues are concerning, Weber says, NPPC is looking forward to the regulatory relief promised by the new administration.

Brownfield visited with Weber at the Iowa Pork Producers annual meeting in Des Moines.

AUDIO: John Weber