“The beginning of comprehensive trade negotiations, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), between the United States and the European Union holds the promise of expanded market access and an improved, science-based regulatory approach for agriculture and food. A constant commitment to removing barriers to agricultural trade is necessary in order to achieve a worthwhile agreement for U.S. agriculture.

“The misuse of sanitary and phytosanitary standards, including the EU’s restrictions on genetically engineered crops, has long been a tactic to impede trade. We will look closely to these negotiations to move past this trade distorting tactic and fully embrace a rules-based trading system with standards based upon scientific assessment.

“Farmers and ranchers have been frustrated over the seemingly endless array of non-tariff barriers Europe applies to many of our agricultural commodities and products. We expect the TTIP to be a high-standard, comprehensive agreement that covers all significant barriers to U.S. and EU agricultural trade. We are cautiously hopeful that these negotiations will yield positive results for U.S. agriculture.”

Source: Courtesy of American Farm Bureau