Ag Trade letter supporting Ellen Terpstra's nomination as Chief Ag negotiator
Dear Chairman Baucus:
The undersigned organizations applaud the nomination of A. Ellen Terpstra as the next Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. We urge swift Congressional confirmation of this important nomination.
Over the length of her government career, Ms. Terpstra has dedicated herself to the promotion of U.S. agricultural interests abroad and opening new markets for the U.S. food and agricultural sector. Her vast experience as the Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, Administrator of USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, President of the USA Rice Federation and the U.S. Apple Association, and former position as an agricultural trade negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will serve her well in this capacity.
Our organizations strongly support expanding market access abroad and addressing the global trade distortions that are present in our sector. A successful conclusion of the World Trade Organization negotiations and Congressional consideration of the pending bilateral trade agreements will yield long-term benefits for our industry. Ms. Terpstra possesses outstanding skills to achieve these important goals.
Our sector continues to maintain a positive trade balance with total exports in 2007 exceeding $81 billion. One out of every three acres of U.S. agricultural production is destined for a foreign market.
With the pending free trade agreements and the Doha Round negotiations, the United States stands at a critical point in its agricultural trade policy. We urge the Senate Finance Committee to act quickly to approve Ms. Terpstra's nomination as Chief Agricultural Negotiator.
Respectfully,
American Cotton Shippers Association
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Feed Industry Association
American Frozen Food Institute
American Meat Institute
American Peanut Product Manufacturers, Inc.
American Potato Trade Alliance
American Seed Trade Association
American Soybean Association
American Sugar Alliance
Animal Health Institute
Archer Daniels Midland Company
Biotechnology Industry Association
Blue Diamond Growers
Bryant Christie Inc.
California Cherry Export Association
California Citrus Mutual
California Citrus Quality Council
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Grape and Tree Fruit League
California Pear Growers
California Table Grape Commission
Cargill, Incorporated
Chiquita Brands International
CoBank
Commodity Markets Council
ConAgra Foods Inc.
Corn Refiners Association
CropLife America
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
DuPont
Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association
Grocery Manufacturers Association
International Dairy Foods Association
Louis Dreyfus Commodities
Monsanto
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Barley Growers Association
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
National Chicken Council
National Corn Growers Association
National Cotton Council
National Grain and Feed Association
National Grange
National Milk Producers Federation
National Oilseed Processors Association
National Pork Producers Council
National Potato Council
National Renderers Association
National Sorghum Producers
National Sunflower Association
North American Export Grain Association
North American Millers' Association
Northwest Fruit Exporters
Northwest Horticultural Council
O'Mara and Associates
Oregon Potato Commission
Pet Food Institute
Pioneer Hi-Bred International
Sunkist Growers
Sun-Maid Growers of California
Sweetener Users Association
Syngenta Corporation
The Fertilizer Institute
U.S. Apple Association
U.S. Canola Association
U.S. Dairy Export Council
U.S. Hide, Skin and Leather Association
U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc.
U.S. Meat Export Federation
United Egg Association
United Egg Producers
United Fresh Produce Association
United States Dry Bean Council
US Rice Producers Association
USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council
USA Poultry and Egg Export Council
USA Rice Federation
Washington Apple Commission
Welch Foods Inc., A Cooperative
Western Growers Association
Western Pistachio Association
Wine Institute