Pork Producers Lobby Senate for TPA

February 14, 2002

As senators settled back after the farm bill debate, pork producers sought to make sure their thoughts didn't stray too far from agricultural issues. About 60 pork producers from 15 states headed to Capitol Hill Wednesday with the message to senators to pass trade promotion authority (TPA). The lobbying effort is part of an intensive two-day public policy gathering to discuss key issues facing pork producers.

National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Barb Determan said Senate passage of TPA is critical to the successful completion of a new World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiating round and is key to the future prosperity of U.S. pork producers. "While U.S. pork producers support bilateral and regional trade initiatives, clearly the most important trade initiative in the offing is a new WTO agreement," Determan said. "This is because global agricultural tariffs average 62%, while U.S. agricultural tariffs average only 12%. If the U.S. is to provide the leadership that our agricultural sector has every right to expect, our negotiating partners must know that U.S. leadership is based on and supported by authority from Congress. Without TPA, WTO negotiations will languish and U.S. farm families and workers will not achieve the level playing field they deserve."

While U.S. pork exports have increased more than 100% since the completion of the Uruguay Round, Determan said world pork tariffs remain extremely high and coupled with foreign subsidies and non-tariff barriers, effectively lock out U.S. producers from many foreign markets. A recent study by two Iowa State University economists shows that U.S. cash hog prices would increase by $10 per head if duties on pork in the WTO negotiations were reduced from current rates to 10%.

The House of Representatives passed TPA legislation on Dec. 6. The Senate Finance Committee passed its version of the legislation on Dec. 12. However, no date for TPA consideration by the full Senate has been scheduled.