ASA joined several other agricultural groups in a joint letter encouraging lawmakers to fully fund the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to maintain trade and economic growth.

“We urge you to take into account the critical importance of exports to the nation’s current economic recovery by funding USTR at levels that will allow it to fulfill its duties in the trade arena,” the groups said in the letter. “The agriculture community at large depends heavily on opening markets and enforcing current trade agreements. However, insufficient funding jeopardizes USTR’s mission to safeguard U.S. exports and carry out trade negotiations necessary to keep the United States competitive in world markets.”

The letter addressed to U.S. Senate Chairwoman Mikulski, House Chairman Rogers, Senate Ranking Member Shelby and House Ranking Member Lowey, states that financial constraints are already forcing USTR to decide which trade barriers can be addressed and which must be simply tolerated.

“USTR’s annual reports on foreign trade measures provide ample evidence of the hundreds of problems we face around the world and, yet, staffing and funding limits prevent USTR from pursuing more than just a handful each year.  The inability to challenge such barriers has a real effect on whether or not our nation is able to take full advantage of the benefits, in the form of jobs and growth, promised by trade agreements,” the letter concludes.  To read the entire letter, click here.