Close TPA Vote Still a ‘Very Positive Development'

December 7, 2001

Despite a one vote margin Thursday to approve trade promotion authority in the House, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman called the result "a positive signal that the United States is committed to expanding trade opportunities for farmers and ranchers." Speaking to reporters after the vote, she said she considered it "a very positive development" because "everyone said we couldn't win this one."

The late afternoon vote of 215-214 came after proponents and opponents had spelled out the now-familiar reasons why TPA has become so contentious an issue. The battle isn't won yet, however, since the Senate also must approve what used to be known as "fast-track authority," the right of the administration to negotiate trade agreements that Congress cannot amend, only vote to approve or disapprove.

Food and agriculture groups had poured time and energy into trying to overcome what obviously was strong opposition. "I commend the nearly 100 food and agriculture organizations and 10 former agriculture secretaries for their efforts to advance this important legislation," Veneman said.

For crops, the export share of U.S. production has averaged about 30% since 1992, reaching as high as 36% in 1995. For meats and other animal products, the export share is steadily increasing. For all agricultural products, foreign markets take about one-fifth of U.S. farm production. Agriculture groups have maintained that lacking TPA, especially in the World Trade Organization round of talks, could weaken the United States in export markets.

Veneman said other countries, during the recent Doha meetings that launched a new round of negotiations, openly wondered "when the United States would get trading authority." TPA is considered crucial to negotiations, because other countries will not negotiate seriously if they know Congress can change the end result with amendments.