U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) convened a subcommittee hearing on Tuesday that explored how free trade agreements impact agricultural exports, jobs and economic growth in rural America.
Reichert, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, said that the United States must remain one of the world’s leading agricultural exporters and sell products in the world’s expanding markets.
“Trade agreements must be done right and must be fully implemented and enforced to benefit America’s agricultural producers,” Reichert said. “The administration must also work with the other TPP countries, as well as Congress and stakeholders, to develop plans as to how these countries will comply with TPP’s obligations.”
U.S. agricultural exports reached $140 billion in 2015, accounting for more than 20 percent of the country’s farm production.
U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) noted the importance of biotechnology and said that with 96 percent of the world’s customers living outside the country, trade agreements hold great promise for agriculture.
“However, in ongoing and future negotiations, we must work to end arbitrary restrictions on U.S. biotech products in large economies such as China and the European Union,” Smith said. “(Tuesday’s) hearing reinforced the advantages of biotechnology, such as increasing yields while preserving finite resources, as well as the challenges of misinformation and unscientific policies we must overcome to enable U.S. producers to feed the growing global population.”
U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) said that agricultural exports would benefit Louisiana more if trade relations with Cuba were normalized.
“Louisiana stands to benefit tremendously by normalizing agricultural trade with Cuba,” Boustany said. “Our rice industry has been the backbone of Louisiana’s economy, even as other sectors have struggled. But we can’t have continued growth in this industry without opening new markets like Cuba. I’ll continue fighting to open up agricultural exports so our producers can benefit.”
Mike Strain, the commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, testified that Cuba imports total more than $1.9 billion annually, and that every dollar of exports generates an additional $1.24 for the local economy.
In his closing remarks, Reichert said that the United States has to lead, set high standards and define what a global economy looks like.
“When America does that, the rest of the world will follow us and will be a part of that high standard, fair trade agreement,” Reichert said.