The American Soybean Association (ASA) today called on the U.S. Senate to take action on legislation granting the President Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). This announcement follows an earlier request by President Bush that the Senate take action on legislation granting his Administration TPA.

TPA allows the President to negotiate favorable trade agreements and then present them to Congress for a simple up-or-down vote. Every President since President Carter has had this authority, but it expired in 1994 and hasn’t been reauthorized. Last December, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3005, legislation granting the President TPA. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee voted 18 to 3 in favor of TPA. The fate of this critically important legislation now rests in the Senate.

“It’s now time for the full Senate to show their support for the American farmer by voting in favor of TPA legislation,” stated ASA President Bart Ruth from his farm in Rising City, Nebraska.

This was the message of an American Oilseed Coalition (AOC) letter that was delivered to the Senate. The AOC, of which ASA is a member, represents the interests of oilseed growers across the country. “In the last four months, TPA has been awaiting action as the Senate has focused on other important legislation. The time has come, however, for the Senate to move ahead with TPA,” reads the letter.

Ninety-six percent of the world’s population lives outside the U.S. With U.S. soybean farmers dependent on export markets for one out of every two rows produced, the prosperity of U.S. Soybean farmers is linked closely to enhanced economic growth worldwide and increased market access. However, tariffs on soybeans and soybean products in a number of countries are very high and need to be reduced if U.S. growers are to remain competitive.

The most effective way of reducing these types of trade barriers is through multilateral negotiations in the World Trade Organization (WTO) as well as bilateral trade agreements. However, in the absence of TPA, other countries are refusing to negotiate final agreements with the U.S because they would be subject to further changes by Congress. In fact, the U.S. is a part of only two of the more than 130 preferential trade agreements that are currently in force throughout the world.

“Passage of TPA is essential if U.S. Soybean farmers are to remain competitive in the world market,” added Ruth. “TPA provides the Administration with the tools needed to negotiate favorable trade agreements. Since TPA expired in 1994, our competitors have been aggressively pursuing and securing trade agreements that should have included the U.S. Failure to act now will only allow this problem to worsen. It’s imperative that ASA members contact their Senators and urge them to support TPA.”

Soybean producers can leave a message with their Senators urging their support for TPA by dialing 1-866-PASS-TPA (1-866-727-7872). Likewise, ASA members can e-mail their senators by logging onto www.soygrowers.com and clicking on the “access more information” link under the TPA heading.