USCA comments on Fast Track and TPP

The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) recently submitted comments to Congress regarding Fast Track Authority/Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). As further action on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) hinges on TPA passage, USCA relayed its support for the effort if legislation passed includes necessary safeguards for America’s ranchers.

USCA President Danni Beer commented on the agreement, “As Congress and the President continue to consider advancing Trade Promotion Authority, our members remain supportive given strong, meaningful, and timely dumping and countervailing laws are included in the discussion. The perishable and cyclical nature of cattle and beef products require snapback provisions and safeguards be in place when considering any international trade agreement or trade authority measure. Without these safeguards cattle producers are left too vulnerable.”

The “Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015” H.R. 1890/S.995 lists the following principles for agricultural trade:

• Sec. 2 (3) (J) eliminating practices that adversely affect trade in perishable or cyclical products, while improving import relief mechanisms to recognize the unique characteristics of perishable and cyclical agriculture.

• Sec. 2 (3) (K) ensuring that import relief mechanisms for perishable and cyclical agriculture are as accessible and timely to growers in the United States as those mechanisms that are used by other countries.

USCA requests that cattle and beef products be listed as a perishable and cyclical items via the legislation and included in all future free trade agreements, notably TPP.