Economists Call for TPA Action

April 30, 2002

Twenty-nine university agricultural economists signed a letter in support of trade promotion authority that was sent to Senate and House leaders. The economists point out that without passage of TPA legislation, "the ability of U.S. negotiators to press for agreements on our terms and our agenda will be fatally weakened."

The letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Tom DAschle (D-SD), Minority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS), Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-MO), minority leader and House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL). "Clearly, there remain important tariff and subsidy inequities that impede U.S. exports. Global food and agriculture tariffs average 62%, while U.S. food and agriculture tariffs average only 12%. But the only practical way to deal with these problems is through the multilateral, regional, and bilateral trade negotiations the (Bush) administration has undertaken, and for which it must have trade promotion zuthority (TPA)," they said in the letter. "The most promising trade initiative for U.S. food and agriculture producers is the ongoing multilateral World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations."

Without TPA the ability of U.S. negotiators "to press for agreements on our terms and our agenda will be fatally weakened. Indeed, there is a deadline of March 2003 in the ongoing WTO agriculture negotiations for establishing the framework of the final agreement … If the U.S. is to provide effective leadership … our negotiating partners must know that U.S. leadership is based on and supported by authority from Congress.