Ranchers cheer, Wyden to review Pacific trade deal

It was announced Monday that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) ministers have concluded negotiations. What does this mean? It means the United States is one step closer to having TPP go into effect.

TPP is a multilateral trade agreement being negotiated by the United States and 11 other nations. Industry leaders around Oregon and across the nation agree that the TPP will enhance Oregon’s No. 1 agricultural commodity, cattle and calves.

Ray Sessler, president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, is supportive of TPP and sees that the agreement will help Oregon producers expand their operations.

“We believe TPP will provide one more tool in our saddlebags to compete on the world stage,” Sessler said. “In the long run, we expect the agreement to add some stability to the (cattle) market.”

Beef Northwest Director of Customer Development and Grain Procurement Ron Rowan says he is supportive of the agreement moving forward.

“TPP will help increase our exports and this is a good opportunity for the cattle industry in Oregon because we are in a good location to access that market,” Rowan said. He notes that the agreement will decrease barriers and open new markets for Oregon Feedyards.

Some consumers have expressed concern that Oregon beef may not be as readily available when TPP goes into effect. Will Wise, chief executive officer for the Oregon Beef Council, said that is a worry consumers can put to rest.

“Local beef supplies that Oregonians enjoy will not change much due to TPP,” Wise said. “Cuts exported to Japan and other Asian markets are not typically high-demand items in the U.S., so the impact on U.S. availability would not be that great.”

Wise also expressed that the Oregon’s beef market is a high priority: “The market closer to home is very important and Oregon will continue to see quality product supplied through local producers.”

The National Cattlemen’s Association noted that the United States participating in TPP is a unique opportunity that we need to take part in.

“Through the partnership process with these 11 other nations, beef producers were able to secure the best deal possible to address tariff and non-tariff trade barriers to beef exports, surpassing individual country arrangements,” NCBA said in a formal press release.

When it’s all said and done, Oregon beef is a highly sought-after commodity due to ranchers that take the time necessary to raise healthy, hearty animals, the association said.

Sessler hopes that through TPP, we will be able to share our high quality beef with many different people. “I believe we need to reach every corner of the world with U.S. Beef,” he said. “After all, we produce the best beef in the world.”

The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association was founded in 1913 and works to promote environmentally and socially sound industry practices, improve and strengthen the economics of the industry, and protect its industry communities and private property rights.

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Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on the close of negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement between the United States and 11 other Pacific nations.

“As I have said in the past, a good Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement could present important new opportunities for Oregon workers, farmers and manufacturers, and raise the bar for labor rights and environmental protections overseas,” Wyden said.

“It’s now time for Congress and the public to examine the details of the TPP and assess whether it will advance the nation’s interests.

“I’m pleased to hear reports that the deal reached today includes, for the first time, an agreement to curb currency manipulation and new and enforceable obligations on countries like Vietnam and Malaysia to uphold labor rights, including in the case of Malaysia enforceable commitments to address human trafficking. I also understand that the agreement will include commitments to stop trade in illegal wildlife and first-ever commitments on conservation.

“Importantly, I understand that this deal will ensure that countries that are part of it can regulate tobacco without fearing intimidation and litigation by Big Tobacco. It has been reported the agreement includes enforceable measures to promote the free flow of digital information across borders; if accurate, those provisions could constitute an important win for the Internet and the free speech it facilitates. Importantly, the impact of this deal must result in parties to it providing copyright exceptions and limitations known as Fair Use. I look forward to working with the administration and stakeholders to be sure that is ultimately the case.

“In the weeks ahead, I will be examining the details of this agreement to determine whether it will provide the meaningful economic opportunities that Oregonians deserve, and that it reflects Oregon values. I look forward to the details of this agreement becoming public as soon as possible, so Oregonians and the rest of the American public can weigh in.”

Background on what happens next:

Pursuant to the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation that was coauthored by Senator Wyden, the President may not sign the agreement until 90 days after he notifies Congress that he intends to sign it. Additionally, TPA requires the President to make the entire text of the agreement public at least 60 days before he signs it. Although TPA provides for a clear timeline for how and when Congress will consider a trade agreement like TPP, such timelines do not begin until the President submits the trade agreement to the Congress. The timing of the submission is negotiated between leaders in Congress and the President.

The TPA legislation that Wyden coauthored included negotiating guidelines championed by Wyden to instruct negotiators to seek strong provisions to curb currency manipulation, protect labor rights and the environment, and promote an open Internet. Wyden recently wrote to the Obama Administration, making clear his views about how the trade agreement should deal with tobacco.