News

Corn Refiners Association and other groups support a US-UK trade deal  

Nearly 50 food and ag groups are calling on Congress to support legislation that would enable the United States to negotiate a comprehensive trade agreement with the United Kingdom.

John Bode, president and CEO of the Corn Refiners Association, says the Undertaking Negotiations on Investment and Trade for Economic Dynamism (UNITED) Act should move forward as it would benefit the industry.

“CRA is really proud to have joined with American Farm Bureau and the associations representing pork and cattlemen and poultry and corn and American agriculture across the board,” he says. “The groups joined together in writing a letter to all members of Congress urging them to support legislation to give targeted TPA, so it’s limited trade promotion authority for a trade deal with the UK, with standards that are like what’s in the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA).”

He tells Brownfield it has bipartisan support.

“Thoughtful leaders from the Democratic and Republican parties in both Chambers of Congress are sponsoring this and we intend to keep pushing on it because it’s important that we get back into the game,” he says.

Introduced by Senators Chris Coons, a democrat from Delaware, and John Thune, a republican from South Dakota, and Representatives Adrian Smith, a republican from Nebraska, and Jim Himes, a democrat from Connecticut, the companion bills would grant President Biden, in consultation with Congress, the ability to seek a comprehensive trade agreement between the United States and the UK.

The groups say a comprehensive trade agreement with the UK would broaden the scope of exporting opportunities for American businesses, strengthen supply chain resilience, and improve the well-being of consumers. They say it would also bring economic opportunities to American farmers, ranchers, and food producers.

A full list of the groups involved can be found here.

A recent report released by the Corn Refiners Association found that the U.S. is falling behind its competitors, including China, Japan, the EU, and Canada, in reducing global trade barriers. The report tracks new market-opening trade agreements entered into by the U.S. and its major economic competitors since 2010. Click here for more.