Some say the deal is crucial for beef producers
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com
While some of the presidential candidates say the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) could be a bad deal for the American economy, farmers in the Midwest appear to have a different opinion.
“This pending TPP trade negotiation, to me, is hugely important for agricultural commodities, but specifically for beef,” Mike John, a cattle rancher from Huntsville, Missouri told Iowa Public Radio.
His opinion is shared by many within agriculture across the U.S.
200 agricultural organizations attached their names to an open letter expressing their support for the multi-nation agreement.
According to the USDA, the countries involved in the TPP “account for up to 42 per cent of all U.S. agricultural exports, totaling $63 billion.”
Julian Binfield, an ag policy analyst at the University of Missouri says American farmers could be left out of the loop if the deal isn’t signed.
“If TPP is not signed, then some other countries might write their own agreement,” he told Iowa Public Radio. “Maybe it’s partners in the TPP like Australia or New Zealand.”
Not everyone is in favour of the TPP.
The National Farmers Union vocally opposes the deal, saying it could hurt smaller farmers.
Roger Johnson, the organization’s president, says free trade deals could entice large companies to move jobs overseas, and thinks the U.S. imports more than it exports.