With the release of a new document on the benefits to soybean farmers, processors, and exporters from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) this week, the American Soybean Association (ASA) and the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) put Congress on notice that the groups will continue their push to approve TPP in the lame duck session following the presidential election.
Designed for delivery to congressional staff, the document contains detailed infographics showing the ways in which the TPP benefits soybean farmers, as well as the processors and exporters that take U.S. soybeans to markets around the world.
“The TPP has huge potential benefits for soybean farmers,” said ASA President and Greenwood, Del., farmer Richard Wilkins. “First, we achieve better market access for soybeans and soy products in 11 partner nations. More impactfully, though, we will increase sales of soybean meal for animal feed as a result of a dramatic increase in the sale of poultry, pork, beef, dairy and eggs to TPP markets. There is too much promise in the TPP for us to give up.”
Prospects for passage of TPP are dim, with both presidential candidates opposed, and a crowded lame duck congressional calendar. ASA and NOPA aren’t giving up, however.
“NOPA strongly supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership because the Asia-Pacific region—comprising almost 40 percent of global GDP—is where the future growth markets will be for U.S. soybean farmers, processors and exporters, as well as domestic meat and poultry producers, which are our industry’s largest customers.” said Tom Hammer, NOPA President. “Unfortunately, the benefits of a TPP that has the potential to become the largest U.S. regional trade agreement in history, cannot be realized if it is not approved by the United States Congress.”
Together, the organizations are confident that this new document depicting the strong benefits to soybean farmers, processors, and exporters helps to provide some weight to the ongoing National debate on the positive trade value of the TPP.
“We’ve heard repeatedly from lawmakers that what they need to not only support the agreement but also to help grow that support is hard data on the benefits of TPP for their constituents,” added Wilkins. “This document does exactly that.”