Richard Owen, vice president of global business development for Produce Marketing Association, today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Senate’s passage of the Trade Act of 2015. The Act authorizes Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), also known as ‘fast track’, to speed negotiation and approval of future trade agreements:
“PMA commends the Senate for their attention to the needs of members across the global fresh produce and floral industries. Their action reinforces that the buying and selling of fresh produce, floral and other products occurs on a global scale, and the ability to compete in international markets is tied to the ability of the U.S. Administration to engage in free and fair trade negotiations that will make it through the political process for approval. We applaud those Senate leaders who continued to focus time and effort to create a bill that has wide-ranging benefits and will create confidence with non-U.S. governments.
“Owen also applauded passage of the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), which reauthorizes for 10 years the primary preferential trade agreement between the United States and Africa. Owen noted ‘AGOA has been important trade and development mechanism between the U.S. and the growing continent of Africa. The reduced tariffs will allow for the continued growth of fresh produce trade, such as exports of South African citrus to the United States.
“As the discussions move to the U.S. House of Representatives, we look forward to continuing to advocate for even greater free and fair trade around the globe as a priority for the produce and floral industries.”
For more information:
Meg Miller
PMA
Tel: +1 (302) 738-7100, ext. 3031
Email: mmiller@pma.com