It is anticipated that upon its return from the Memorial Day Recess next week, the House will take up two pieces of legislation important to soybean farmers. One would extend Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) for negotiating new trade agreements, and one would repeal mandatory country of origin labeling (COO) requirements for imported beef, pork and chicken sold in the United States.

ASA supports both pieces of legislation and asks all members to reach out to their Representatives during next week’s Congressional recess to urge them to vote “yes” on both bills.

Background on the bills and links to materials on the Soy Action Center are included below.

 Background on TPA:

The House is expected to vote in June on the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act. The bill extends TPA to the White House, and is a key priority for ASA in the 114th Congress. The U.S. can’t conclude agreements expeditiously without TPA. In the immediate term, this means the Trans-Pacific Partnership with 11 countries along the Pacific Rim. In the future, it means agreements with Europe and a broad range of potential trade deals with other partners. The bill gives USTR the ability to get the best deal possible, and it provides Congress the oversight it needs to ensure every agreement will work for American farmers. TPA is critical for soybean farmers because new trade agreements expand market access as we look to maintain our position at the vanguard of world agricultural trade. Soybeans and soy products are the most valuable U.S. agricultural export.  In 2014, the U.S. exported roughly $30.5 billion in soybeans, soybean meal and soybean oil. Moreover, the export share of annual U.S. soy production has grown steadily. Between 2000 and 2010, the value of U.S. oilseed and product exports more than doubled, from $9 billion to over $20 billion.  In addition, new trade agreements will expand livestock product exports, which are also important for U.S. soybean farmers.

You can contact your Representatives to urge a “YES” vote on TPA by clicking here.

 Background on COOL:

The House will also take up a bill authored by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway that will repeal the mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) rule for imported beef, pork and chicken sold in the United States. The COOL rule is one that ASA has consistently opposed since its inception. The World Trade Organization has now ruled four times that COOL violates U.S. obligations under the WTO, and puts American farmers at risk of retaliation from our customers in Canada, Mexico and other countries. The COOL rule has the potential to cause significant problems, both for the livestock industry that represents our number one customer, and for soybean farmers directly, should Canada or Mexico opt to place retaliatory tariffs on American agricultural products. As supporters of our customers in the livestock industry and producers of a crop at risk of retaliation, soybean farmers must have a solution for COOL, and Chairman Conaway's bill offers that solution.

You can contact your Representatives to urge a repeal of the COOL rule by clicking here.