Letter
Dear Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Crapo:
The undersigned food and agriculture trade associations respectfully urge confirmation of Katherine Tai to be U.S. Trade Representative.
Our associations represent the vast majority of the food and agriculture sector accounting for roughly one-fifth of the country’s economic activity, directly supporting more than 23 million jobs – constituting nearly 15 percent of total U.S. employment.
Ms. Tai is eminently qualified and deeply familiar with the mission of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in opening foreign markets and reducing barriers for U.S. food and agriculture workers and exporters for the benefit of consumers in the U.S. and across the globe. We especially value Ms.
Tai’s demonstrated ability to build bipartisan support for trade policies. We submit that these capabilities are essential to the success of the next Trade Representative in addressing the most pressing trade policy issues, including trade relationship challenges with China and the European Union, as well as enforcement of existing trade agreements and tackling non-tariff barriers to trade. We believe that Ms. Tai has the experience and expertise to secure greater market access for U.S. products and ensure enforcement of clear and fair rules with our trade partners so U.S. food and agriculture workers and our industry sectors may fairly compete in the global economy.
Please feel free to call upon any of the undersigned associations to expand upon our rationale for supporting the nomination of Katherine Tai.
Sincerely,
Agribusiness Council of Indiana
Agricultural Retailers Association
Almond Alliance of California
American Bakers Association
American Beekeeping Federation
American Dairy Products Institute
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Feed Industry Association
American Fruit and Vegetable Processors and Growers Coalition
American Seed Trade Association
American Soybean Association
American Sugar Alliance
Animal Health Institute
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Biotechnology Innovation Organization
California Association of Winegrape Growers
California Cherry Export Association
California Fresh Fruit Association
California Grain and Feed Association
California League of Food Processors
California Pear Growers Association
California Table Grape Commission
Colorado Dairy Farmers
Consumer Brands Association
Corn Refiners Association
Cotton Warehouse Association of America
Crop Insurance Professionals Association
Dairy Producers of New Mexico
Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S.
Farmers for Free Trade
Florida Tomato Exchange
FMI – Food Industry Association
Food Northwest
Fresh Produce Association of the Americas
Global Cold Chain Alliance
Hop Growers of America
Illinois Pork Producers Assoc.
Imperial Valley Asparagus Growers Association
Indiana Dairy Producers
Institute of Shortening and Edible Oils
International Dairy Foods Association
Iowa Pork Producers Association
Iowa State Dairy Association
Kansas Dairy Association
Kansas Grain and Feed Association
Kansas Pork Association
Leather & Hide Council of America
Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers
Meat Import Council of America, Inc.
Michigan Agri-Business Association
Michigan Apple Association
Michigan Pork Producers Association
Midwest Food Products Associations, Inc.
Milk Producers Council
Minnesota Grain and Feed Association
Minnesota Pork Producers Association
Missouri Pork Association
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Confectioners Association
National Corn Growers Association
National Cotton Council
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Fisheries Institute
National Grain and Feed Association
National Milk Producers Federation
National Oilseed Processors Association
National Pecan Federation
National Pork Producers Council
National Potato Council
National Sorghum Producers
National Turkey Federation
Nebraska Grain and Feed Association
New York Pork Producers
North American Export Grain Association
North American Meat Institute
North American Millers’ Association
North American Renderers Association
North Carolina Pork Council
Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance
Northwest Horticultural Council
Ohio Pork Council
Oklahoma Grain & Feed Association
Oregon Dairy Farmers Association
Oregon Feed and Grain Association
Organic Trade Association
Pacific Northwest Grain & Feed Association
Panhandle Peanut Growers Association
Pet Food Institute
Produce Marketing Association
Rocky Mountain Agribusiness Association
SNAC International
South Dakota Dairy Producers
South East Dairy Farmers Association
Southwest Council of Agribusiness
Sweetener Users Association
Tennessee Feed and Grain Association
Tennessee Pork Producers Association
Texas Grain and Feed Association
The Hardwood Federation
U.S. Apple Association
U.S. Dairy Export Council
U.S. Wheat Associates
United Fresh Produce Association
United States Peanut Federation
US Rice Producers Association
USA Poultry and Egg Export Council
USA Rice Federation
Virginia Pork Council
Washington Apple Commission
Western Growers
Western Peanut Growers Association
WineAmerica
Wisconsin Agri-Business Association
