70 food and agricultural organizations are urging Congress to renew Trade Promotion Authority legislation.
The groups say the farmers, ranchers, food and ag companies they represent heavily depend on trade for their livelihoods.
Their ability to compete in the global markets is tied to the ability of the U.S. to eliminate impediments to international trade.
The groups pointed out U.S. ag exports have nearly quadrupled in value due to implementation of trade agreements since 1989.
Each dollar in U.S. farm exports from those trade deals generated an additional dollar and 27 cents in business activity.
Every one billion dollars in ag exports also supports 6,600 American jobs.
If Congress doesn’t pass TPA the groups say it will signal to partners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations and the world that the U.S. is turning its back on the fastest growing economic region in the world.
