In a letter sent Monday to President Donald Trump, IDFA joined 86 other organizations and companies from the food and agriculture sector in highlighting the importance of trade with the Asia-Pacific region to the health of the U.S. economy. The letter emphasized the industry’s  interest in working with the administration to build strong trade relationships with Asia, now the world’s largest market for food and agricultural products.

“Reducing and eliminating tariffs and other restrictive agricultural policies in this region will help American workers in our sector compete, creating an opportunity to supply Asian markets with high-quality food and agricultural goods,” the organizations said in the letter.

“Our ability to continue to create jobs and support economic growth in rural America depends on maintaining and increasing access to markets outside the United States through existing and future trade agreements,” they added. “With more than 95 percent of our potential customers living outside our borders, expanding access to international markets is essential for our future success. The Asia-Pacific region is one such market that is critical if we are to attain our future export potential.”

IDFA and others expressed hope that the administration will deepen U.S. economic engagement in the region while responding to the regional trade agreements being negotiated by foreign competitors.

“We welcome an opportunity to work with your administration to ensure that America’s farmers, ranchers, processors and food companies do not fall behind our foreign peers in this vitally important economic region,” they said.  

The complete letter can be read here.

For more information, contact Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, at bhughes@idfa.org.