Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week called on Congress to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation.
The Trade Promotion Authority allows the U. S. trade representatives to enter trade discussions with negotiating objectives and priorities already agreed upon by Congress, which provides potential trading partners with the confidence that the U.S. Congress is likely to ratify any final agreement reached.
TPA has been utilized during presidential administrations since 1974 and has only been authorized four times.
As the Biden administration has stated its focus will be on addressing domestic issues, it is unclear if it will request TPA renewal before its deadline this summer.
“I’m hoping that Congress during the course of this year begins to get serious about resuming and extending Trade Promotion Authority, which will then give us the opportunity to complete negotiations with the U.K. potentially,” Vilsack said during an annual agricultural trade conference organized by the Virginia governor’s office, Politico reported.
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) commends Secretary Vilsack for his leadership urging Congress to renew the TPA legislation.
“The animal feed and pet food industry is encouraged by Secretary Vilsack’s recognition of the importance of TPA renewal and is hopeful it is a signal that the Biden administration intends to take an active and supportive position renewing it," says AFIA’s President and CEO Constance Cullman.
"As trade in the animal food sector continues to grow, we applaud Secretary Vilsack for standing behind U.S. agriculture and being the first within the administration to express both the need and support for TPA renewal.”
The AFIA is working to build upon the U.S. animal food industry’s success in exporting feed, feed ingredient and pet food products to countries where there is a need and a desire for these products by encouraging TPA renewal.
