BISMARCK, N.D. – Today Congressman Kevin Cramer urged U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman to ensure full market access for agriculture products is included in any Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. Cramer said market access for farm commodities must be a top national priority in U.S. trade policy.
“TPP negotiations set an important standard for future trade agreements, and a positive outcome on agriculture products could mean billions in future exports and hundreds of thousands of jobs. This success will only be realized, however, if Japan and other U.S. trading partners agree to address trade barriers comprehensively, without broad exclusions for sensitive products such as those submitted by Japan,” wrote Cramer and more than 60 colleagues to Vilsack and Froman. “Not only would special treatment for sensitive agriculture products be inconsistent with U.S. requests in previous trade agreements and assurances provided when Japan was invited to join TPP, but also could undermine the careful balance of concessions the other eleven economies have achieved. If Japan is allowed exemptions, other TPP countries could demand similar treatment and the entire agreement would be at risk of unraveling.”
Reports from trade talks indicate Japan is resisting U.S. demands to reduce or eliminate tariffs on rice, beef, pork, sugar, dairy, and wheat. Trade Representative Froman met with Japan Economy and Finance minister Akira Amari from April 16 through April 19 to conclude bilateral TPP negotiations. President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Japan on April 24 and 25.
The signed letter can be found here.
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