Up Next, Free Trade
Up Next, Free Trade. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.
We have been talking now about those three free trade agreements with Panama, South Korea and Columbia for quite some time. The anticipation of the passing of the trade agreements is almost palpable. Farmers want it, Congress seems to want it. But for some reason the White House had been stalling process. Well now the President has finally sent the agreements to Congress. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack has begun pushing for passage of three pending free trade agreements.
VILSACK: These agreements we believe will support tens of thousands of jobs an add billions of dollars of economic activity to our economy. American agriculture will benefit to the tune of $2.3 billion dollars in additional exports that will support nearly 20-thousand jobs here at home.
Vilsack says Congress will consider a new program to help U.S. workers displaced by trade as lawmakers deal with the three trade agreements.
VILSACK: At the same time these trade agreements will be approved we’re also pleased that Congress will be working on the extension of the Trade Adjustment Assistance effort. We reached an agreement on the terms of meaningfully strengthening and renewing that important policy. The agreement that was reached preserves the key goals of the 2009 program which means that we’ll provide coverage service for workers whose jobs have shifted to China, India or other countries. This is important but it was also reformed and improved and we believe the changes will save approximately $733 million dollars when compared to a straight extension of the full program.
Vilsack told reporters he's hoping for fast consideration of the trade agreements with Panama, Columbia and South Korea so U.S. farmers can better compete for those markets.
VILSACK: Korea Columbia or Panama have negotiated trade agreements with a host of other nations so we need these agreements to be completed quickly so we can level the playing field secure the markets for American products and specifically for American agricultural products.
As for just how soon the FTA’s will be passed, Vilsack says the votes are there.
VILSACK: We have the commitment of the Speaker of the House to move the trade agreements and the trade adjustment assistance and so I take him at his word and I think we all should so we’re hopeful for a quick passage.
That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.
