Discussing Trade

Discussing Trade. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

President Obama says he will work to win Congressional approval of the South Korean trade deal in 2010. Economically, the trade pact would be the biggest free trade deal Congress has seen since the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada. Moving the deal next year would put the legislation right in the middle of an election year. The President was expected to discuss the situation with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak while visiting that nation.

Meanwhile the battle over Cuba trade and travel is heating up again on Capitol Hill - as agriculture and other reform backers see their best chance in years for lifting restrictions. The House Foreign Affairs Committee heard arguments for and against lifting travel restrictions to Cuba - but it’s clear Democrats and some Republicans feel the politics is now ripe for reform. American Farm Bureau’s Chris Garza

GARZA: I think as far as timing goes this is the right Congress and the right Administration in order to get something done. Unfortunately, again, there are still opposition within the House and the Senate that could potentially put up roadblocks that we would have to find a way in order to get beyond.

Now here’s today’s Washington Grange Report.

(GRANGE)

That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.