A statement from U.S. Grains Council President and CEO Tom Sleight following remarks by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack at the 2015 Commodity Classic in Phoenix:"We appreciate the Secretary's call today at Commodity Classic for renewed engagement in trade policy by U.S. farmers and completion of game-changing agreements currently being negotiated, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
"In the past 20 years, much of the growth in trade we have seen in coarse grains and co-products has come directly from the access granted by free trade agreements. NAFTA, CAFTA-DR and agreements with Korea, Panama, Peru and Colombia have lowered tariffs, kept us competitive in the global marketplace and spurred new innovation by our trading partners that has, in turn, created new demand for our products.
"Free trade measures are in effect with 14 of our top 30 U.S. corn customers from the last marketing year. We have also established favorable trade agreements with top importing countries of U.S. sorghum and barley.
"We are confident that the next generation of trade agreements will have even more dramatic impact as the global economy becomes more integrated and more countries realize the potential for vigorous trade to improve their economies, levels of food security and qualities of life."
3.2.2015