SENATORS INTRODUCE AGRICULTURAL PEST BILL
News Date May 02, 2008
Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) have introduced legislation (S. 2906) to help decrease the risk of accidentally importing invasive pests or diseases. The Agriculture Smart Trade Act would ensure there is a plan to prevent invasive species from getting into the U.S. and aims to provide some assurance that the U.S. won't face unjustified trade barriers once a trade agreement is in place.
The Agriculture Smart Trade Act would require the administration within ninety days of starting formal negotiations with a potential trade partner, to send a report to Congress detailing potential invasive pests and disease that could pose a risk to U.S. agriculture. The bill also requires the administration to disclose in the same report all sanitary and photosanitary trade barriers that could unduly restrict export markets for American commodities. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)