NFU Statement: Salazar to Lead Interior Department — 12|18|08
Friday, January 16, 2009
Trade Negotiations & WTO
At the current World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations, U.S. trade negotiators have traded away the interests of U.S. farmers and ranchers in the interests of agri-business, non-agricultural sectors, and developing countries.
A trade environment should provide consumers with an adequate, high quality, safe and affordable food supply; generate reasonable rates of return to producers; address all forms of agriculture trade and production distorting policies; and allow flexibility for individual nations to provide safety net programs.
NFU believes there is no acceptable version of Trade Promotion Authority or “Fast Track” and an entirely new mechanism for authorizing trade negotiations and agreements is needed to return control and oversight of future international trade agreements to Congress.
USDA Notification to WTO on Domestic Support 9-28-07