Farm Aid Cuts on the WTO Table

This represents a real cut over the decade average but last year the subsidies were only about $7 billion.

U.S. says ready to cut farm aid to $15 billion

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States is ready to cut its ceiling for trade-distorting farm subsidies to $15 billion a year to help unblock talks for a global trade deal, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said on Tuesday.

The long-awaited offer was...(complete article here).

South Korea and U.S. Finally Reach Beef Deal

This is good not only for the U.S. beef industry but for our balance of trade as well.

South Korea and U.S. Reach Deal on American Beef

By CHOE SANG-HUN
Published: June 22, 2008

SEOUL — South Korea and the United States reached an agreement after a week of negotiations to restrict exports of American beef to South Korea, officials here said on Saturday, just hours before a large protest rally was scheduled to demand more concessions from the United States.

American trade envoys agreed to restrict beef exports to...(complete article here).

Senator Cornyn Continues to Push for Colombia Free Trade Agreement

The Colombia Free Trade Agreement is important to agriculture. It makes no sense (other than arbitrary wielding of power) for Speaker Pelosi to block a vote on this agreement.



Cornyn: Democrats' Obstruction of Colombia Free Trade Agreement is Harming Texas Jobs


Texas, U.S. exports taxed with more than $1 billion in tariffs as House Speaker blocks vote


Wednesday, May 7, 2008



WASHINGTON—In remarks delivered on the Senate floor this morning, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, said the recent decision by congressional Democrats to block consideration of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement is costing Texas businesses and farmers hundreds of millions of dollars in unnecessary tariffs.



Sen. Cornyn also pressed this issue at...(complete news release here).

Trade, Texas, Security and Prosperity

Senator Cornyn speaks again about the political maneuvering by Nancy Pelosi regarding the Columbian Free Trade Agreement.

Trade boosts Texas prosperity, national security

Monday, April 21, 2008

By: Sen. John Cornyn

From its beginning as a state, Texas has prospered through trade. Texans work hard and efficiently, and what we produce is highly valued around the globe.

In the early days of Texas statehood, cotton was king, and most of it was exported to mills abroad. Then came the Texas cowboy and cattle drive era, the beginning of our international beef industry.

Today, Texas leads all states in exports of goods, ranging from...(complete article here).

Cornyn Comments on Colombia Free Trade Agreement

The more that I look into the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, the more I realize how important it is to agriculture -- and not only agriculture, but other industries as well. A large portion of our trade with Colombia is currently agricultural products. As the news release points out, this agreement is actually better for the U.S. in many ways than most trade agreements that come before Congress. Currently there are tariff barriers to many U.S. products going into Columbia which would be removed under this bill. On the other hand, there currently are no tariffs on the primary products that Columbia ships to the U.S. If Nancy Pelosi wasn't playing political power games with this agreement rather than allowing the representatives of the American people to vote on it, we would all soon benefit from its likely passage. Instead, we are caught once again in the power struggle between those who would wield their power in the interest of their own personal gain or the gain of very narrow interest groups rather than in the interest of the majority of the people. I applaud Senator Cornyn for standing up and expressing his views on this important economic issue for the American people.

Cornyn Urges Congress To Pass U.S. - Colombia Free Trade Agreement

Says accord will boost Texas jobs, America’s security

Monday, April 14, 2008

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the President’s Export Council, on Monday urged Democrat House Leader Nancy Pelosi to reconsider her obstruction of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, which would boost Texas job opportunities and bolster America’s national security.

Sen. Cornyn said Texas sends $2.3 billion in goods to Colombia, but America currently faces unilateral tariffs on those products. The accord levels the playing field and creates jobs and opportunity here in the United States, he added. “Last year, Texas led the nation in exports to Colombia… This agreement will remove those tariffs and allow U.S. manufacturers to sell even more goods to this large and growing market. And when...(complete news release here).

NAFTA -- Full Implementation

This is a tough issue. In order to improve our markets to other countries such as those in Latin America, they must have the economic strength to demand our products. However, to gain that strength, they must play the cards they are dealt -- in developing countries that is usually agriculture. Because of lower input costs such as labor, they sometimes have an economic advantage in production. Competition is good, but national security then becomes an issue. We must maintain food security -- both production capacity and regulatory oversight of chemicals, disease, etc.

Another problem is trucking -- their trucks, our highways. We must require that foreign trucking companies operate at the same standards as domestic carriers do.

If the economies of the countries to our south improve sufficiently, will it have an impact on illegal immigration to this country? I hope so, but won't hold my breath. There is still significant political instability and corruption in most Latin American countries so that the incentives to leave still outweigh the reasons to stay. It is likely to remain that way for many years.

Statement by Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner on the Full Implementation of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on Jan. 2, 2008

"As of Jan. 1, 2008, the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is now fully implemented, opening an historic new chapter in one of the most successful trade agreements in our history. Since its inception in 1994, NAFTA has been a remarkable success story for all three partners. It has contributed to significant increases in agricultural trade and investment between the United States, Canada and Mexico and has benefited farmers, ranchers and consumers throughout North America.

"In 1994, our combined agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico totaled...(complete article here).

In principle I am for free trade. However, I also am for national security. If we were all on a level playing field -- same type of government, same level of economic activity, same tax structure, similar wage structure, same level of political stability, etc. -- I would say let's go for it. That isn't the case though (the case with Canada is very different than the case with Mexico and other Latin American countries). We must move toward free trade in steps -- carefully planned steps -- or we may see disastrous consequences.

Updated Agricultural Trade Outlook from USDA

Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade updated.