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Why
TPA is Important to Nation's Corn Growers (8-15-01)
This
is the second article in a four-part series on the importance of Trade
Promotion Authority to corn growers and U.S. agriculture as a whole.
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) urges corn growers to voice
their support of TPA to their elected officials during the Congressional
recess.
Trade
Promotion Authority (TPA), or "Fast Track" as it was previously
called, has made frequent appearances in the headlines lately. The National
Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has been a staunch proponent of TPA
and is working hard to ensure Congress gives this right to President
George W. Bush. But what is TPA and how does it affect you?
TPA
is the trade negotiating authority Congress has granted the previous
five presidents of this country. Under this authority, first granted
in 1974 to President Gerald Ford, the Executive Branch is required to
consult regularly with Congress and seek out advice from various advisory
committees and the public as trade agreements are being negotiated.
In
return, Congress agrees not to amend legislation implementing trade
agreements. This way, trade negotiators can make agreements supported
by Congress and the American people without worrying about the agreed-upon
terms being changed after the negotiations end.
This
negotiating authority ended in 1994 and during that time, other countries
have been moving forward with trade agreements while the U.S. has been
stalled. NCGA Chairman of the Public Policy Action Team and Coshocton,
Ohio, corn grower, Brent Porteus said the U.S. is being left behind
without TPA.
"Currently,
there are more than 130 preferential trade and investments agreements
in the world today," he said, "and due to lack of trade authority,
the United States is only party to two.
"For
example," Porteus continued, "the European Union has free
trade agreements set up with 27 different countries, 20 of which were
set up within the last 10 years. As of right now, the EU is also working
on 15 new accords. That's why it is so important for growers to contact
their elected leaders and tell them they support TPA. We cannot continue
to be left behind on the world stage."
NCGA
urges corn growers and other U.S. trade supporters to contact their
elected officials supporting support of TPA. To contact your senator
and representatives, click on the Action
Alert on the NCGA web site home page: www.ncga.com. More information
on NCGA's stance on TPA and other trade issues is available on the NCGA
website.
Last
reviewed August 15, 2001
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