The Biden administration has so far opted not to enter into traditional, tariff-cutting free trade agreements, and farm groups are now turning to the large field of candidates hoping to be the next president to make the case for new trade deals.
“It has been over a decade since the U.S. entered into a new comprehensive free trade agreement,” some of the largest U.S. farm groups said in an open letter to presidential candidates. “The U.S. needs to again take the lead in negotiating new FTAs with other countries and work to strengthen and reform the rules-based multilateral trading system.”
Groups signing the letter include the American Soybean Association, National Pork Producers Council, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Corn Growers Association, International Fresh Produce Association, National Milk Producers Federation, National Sorghum Producers, North American Meat Institute, North American Renderers Association, U.S. Apple Association, U.S. Dairy Export Council, USA Rice Federation, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Almond Alliance, American Feed Industry Association, Animal Health Institute, Farmers for Free Trade and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
The Biden administration is currently negotiating the 14-nation Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and although the government has stressed that it will expand trade opportunities by cutting non-tariff trade barriers, many farm groups are seeking more.
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The farm groups, writing in the letter, stressed that “our friends and adversaries alike have been busy entering into FTAs, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and to bilateral deals like the ones created just this year between Australia and the UK and between China and Ecuador.”
So, as candidates scour the country in an effort they hope eventually leads to the White House, farm groups are hoping they will endorse the push for new FTAs.
“As we move toward the 2024 presidential election, stakeholders in the food and agriculture sector are here to serve as a resource,” the groups said in the letter. “We ask you to commit to fighting for free and fair trade on behalf of America’s farmers and ranchers, and we stand ready to answer any questions or provide additional information that may be needed by your campaign.”
