US poultry org supports trade promotion bill

Mike Brown, president, National Chicken Council, has voiced his support of legislation that will establish strong rules for trade negotiations and Congressional approval of trade pacts.

The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act of 2014 will deliver trade agreements that will boost US exports and create American jobs.

“US poultry producers and exporters strongly support the administration’s call for bipartisan approval of the Congressional Trade Priorities Act (TPA),” Brown said. “Prompt passage of this legislation would not only help to facilitate congressional approval of trade agreements, such as the Trans Pacific Partnership and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership when concluded, but equally important it would strengthen the hand of US negotiators to take down trade barriers to US chicken at the international trade bargaining table.

“Passing TPA would also demonstrate more strongly to the international trade community that the United States is most serious in continuing to be the world leader to building trade, increasing economic activity and providing for more workers to benefit from the hard fought agreements,” Brown concluded.

TPA, also known as “fast-track,” allows the President to negotiate free trade agreements (FTA) based on strategic goals and objectives outlined in the legislation, with ongoing congressional oversight. Deals concluded under TPA are subject to congressional approval without amendments.