WASHINGTON (June 24, 2009) - National Farmers Union today announced its continued support for the Trade, Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment (TRADE) Act. The legislation, introduced today by Rep. Michael Michaud, D-Maine, outlines U.S. trade priorities, seeks to resolve the problems in existing trade agreements and sets the foundation for future negotiations.
"The free trade agenda gives our trading partners a competitive advantage over American producers because many of them don't have to meet the same high labor, environmental and health and safety standards as our farmers and ranchers," NFU President Roger Johnson said. "The TRADE Act establishes basic, common sense principles upon which future trade agreements ought to be based. These principles would enable American agriculture to participate on a level playing field."
American producers sell their products in a global marketplace, dominated by a small number of multinational firms. Johnson said past trade negotiators have often traded agriculture off to achieve favorable trade agreements for other sectors of the economy.
"The agriculture sector and rural America ought to be supported by our trade negotiators." Johnson said. "Congress must ensure that future trade agreements enable American agriculture producers the opportunity and ability to compete fairly."