Media Advisory: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Deliver Keynote Remarks at 43rd Annual World Trade Day Luncheon

You are subscribed to USDA Office of Communications.

Media Advisory No. 0031.16

 

Contact: USDA Office of Communications (202) 720-4623

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Deliver Keynote Remarks at 43^rd Annual World Trade Day Luncheon

 

WASHINGTON, May 17, 2016 – ON THURSDAY, May 19, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will deliver keynote remarks at the 43^rd Annual World Trade Day Luncheon, hosted by the Denver World Trade Center. In October 2015, the United States and eleven other nations concluded negotiations on the historic Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. Passage of TPP by the U.S. Congress will provide new market access across the board for America's farmers and ranchers by lowering tariffs, eliminating barriers, boosting exports and supporting jobs in America's rural economies.

                                                                                                                              

Colorado currently exports $1.7 billion of agricultural goods each year, supporting 12,900 jobs. Colorado’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities have much to gain from passage of the TPP, which will reduce tariffs and increase markets for top exports including beef and veal, wheat, dairy and corn. The Obama Administration has worked aggressively to expand markets for American-made goods, including agricultural products. Agricultural exports have climbed more than 35 percent in value since 2009, totaling a record $919.6 billion over the past seven years. In fiscal year 2015, American farmers and ranchers exported $139.7 billion of food and agricultural goods to consumers worldwide. Not only that, U.S. agricultural exports supported more than one million American jobs both on and off the farm, a substantial part of the estimated 11.7 million jobs supported by exports all across the country. The TPP is a new, high-standard trade agreement that levels the playing field for American workers and American businesses, supporting more Made in America exports and higher-paying American jobs.

 

The TPP will help expand U.S. agricultural exports to some of the fastest growing countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and the Administration will now work with Congress to secure its passage into law. The agreement would eliminate or significantly reduce tariffs on our products and deter non-science based sanitary and phytosanitary barriers that have put American agriculture at a disadvantage in TPP countries in the past. Despite these past barriers, countries in the TPP currently account for up to 42 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports, totaling $63 billion. Thanks to this agreement and its removal of unfair trade barriers, American agricultural exports to the region will expand even further.

 

Thursday, May 19, 2016

1:25 pm MDT

 

WHAT:          Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to deliver Keynote Remarks at World Trade Day Luncheon.

 

WHERE:       Infinity Park Event Center - Main Ballroom

4400 Kentucky Ave

Glendale, CO 80246

 

Members of the media who wish to attend should contact press@oc.usda.gov