The Biden Administration recently announced its own trade proposal for pacific rim countries that includes the United States. This is in response to the long-talked about Trans-Pacific partnership which the U.S. removed itself from, and the new proposals being put forth by China, which will greatly improve its economic standing in the region.
Farmers for Free Trade (FFT) held a virtual press conference in which they analyzed the framework of the proposed Indo-Pacific trade agreement. Former Montana Senator Max Baucus is a co-chair for FFT and he says that it is a good first step, and commends the Biden Administration for being assertive in a region we cannot afford to fall behind in.
Baucus says that there is much work to still be done. The United States need to counter-balance China in the region.
Joey Fernandes is a dairy farmer who was also a part of the news conference. He states that farmers cannot plan for the future without strong and stable trade agreements.
Maria Zeba is the Assistant Vice President of International Affairs with the National Pork Producers Council. She says more ag trade benefits pork producers as well as the overall economy.
These are just the first stages of the framework. It still has a long way to go, especially in countries who are benefitting from the existing TPP pact.
