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Promoting the positives of trade policy

While the United States can produce an abundant crop and ship it around the world, trade policy barriers in some countries block access to the United States’ reliable grain supply.

Through its 51 years of advocating for trade policies that benefit producers and consumers around the world, the U.S. Grains Council has been an internationally recognized resource for the development of consistent pro-trade policies. Through its global relationships, the Council educates international organizations and customers that consistent trade policies help avoid discriminatory pricing, ad hoc import bans, tariffs, embargoes and other barriers.

This was recently demonstrated in South Korea, Colombia and Panama. With the continued and significant support of farm and agribusiness leaders, Congress in late 2011 ratified free trade agreements with all three, leveling the playing field and strengthening the position of U.S. exporters. The agreements removed trade impediments for thousands of products, including U.S. corn, sorghum, barley and DDGS. They provide opportunities to increase millions of dollars of U.S. ag exports, which will generate additional U.S. economic growth and jobs.

The Council is hard at work to rebuild these markets. Just weeks after ratification, for example, the Council organized a delegation to meet with key officials in Panama and Colombia to discuss the implementation of the trade agreements. The delegation also met with grain customers to further build relationships and discuss the high-quality U.S. corn, sorghum and barley crops; the availability of DDGS; and the reliability of the United States as a trading partner.

Throughout the year, Council continued promoting sound trade policies in regards to agriculture biotechnology. As one farmer noted in a Council communication, biotechnology helps farmers produce more corn, more consistently. Biotechnology has been available for 16 years, and its rate of adoption continues to move forward, with farmers in 29 countries planting biotech crops on 366 million acres in 2010, the most recent year data was available.

Whether at a biotech conference in Beijing or in working with a team of Japanese food safety experts coming to the United States, the Council provides opportunities for understanding. It is clear the global use of biotechnology will continue advancing – and the Council will strive to promote related trade policies that are open and predictable.