Ag Groups Send Letter Urging Congress to Remain in WTO
By AgDaily
A coalition of 62 leading U.S. agriculture stakeholders called for continued U.S. membership in the World Trade Organization. The letter was sent to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and leaders of the Senate Finance, House Ways & Means, and Senate and House Agriculture Committees. It calls for effective WTO reform that would enhance the ability of American agriculture to access foreign markets and maintain transparency and accountability critical to future export growth supporting American jobs and identifies characteristics desired in the next WTO Director General.
Signatories of the letter include American Farm Bureau, American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Milk Producers Federation, Corn Refiners Association, United Fresh Produce Association, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and other industry groups.
“The WTO is fundamental to a rules-based system of international trade. We signed this letter to make clear to leaders on both sides of the political aisle that while reforms are needed continued U.S. leadership in the WTO is vital to American agriculture,” said John Bode, CRA President and CEO. “As long as exports are important to U.S. agriculture, WTO membership will be essential. This is critical to the one-fifth of the U.S. economy that is agriculture related.”