Expanding Global Markets - Part 1

Tim Hammerich

News Reporter

Well one thing many of us in agriculture are hoping to see out of 2021 are improved trading relationships with countries like China. Could a new administration rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership that President Trump withdrew from in 2017?

Bryant Christie helps companies and industry organizations develop market access and market development strategies. Chairman Bill Bryant hopes the U.S. can start to regain more of a leadership role on the world stage, but says it may not involve fully rejoining the TPP.

Bryant… “On both sides, it has been so bounced around like a political football, that it doesn't have a lot of support. And one of the first challenges the Biden administration is going to have is to explain to the American people why it is important for us to have a leadership role in Asia. And you have to have a solid trade relationship if you're going to have that leadership role, and rebuild support for this agreement.”

Bryant speculates that this might mean a new agreement with similar terms, but under a different name.

Bryant… “You know, we might have to go, you negotiate certain terms and ask these countries to allow us to get back in and we'll call it something else or a new agreement to save face for everybody. But at the end of the day, I think the Biden administration has got to figure out how we re-enter some form of the TPP. And it will be interesting to see who he appoints for his trade team and how quickly they want to move and doing that.”

An improved relationship with China and others will help demand for California-grown products.