AMI President Supports Policy To Increase Ag Exports

US - Increased agriculture exports are a must for US producers, says the AMI president.

5 March 2010

2 minute read

North America

"United States meat and poultry exports have been a major success story over the last two decades, demonstrating that great potential exists for the United States meat and poultry industry in the international trade arena," says American Meat Institute president and CEO J. Patrick Boyle in a guest editorial in The Hill, a leading Congressional newspaper.

He continued: "With meat consumption rising along with economic development and population in many nations around the world, we have billions of hungry, potential customers. But if the United States is not there to fill their plates, other major exporting nations will."

Mr Boyle urges the Obama administration to work to expand access to growing international markets for America's high-quality meat and poultry products, by urging Congressional passage of pending free trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia – agreements that have already been signed by the United States.

He said: "These free trade agreements will provide America's farmers, ranchers, food processors and the businesses they support with improved access to global consumers while creating more jobs at home."

In addition to passing these free trade agreements, Mr Boyle says we must confront unjust barriers to US exports and ensure trade is governed by guidelines established by the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health), which are sometimes subjugated to protectionism.

He concluded: "As the president said in his State of the Union address, 'The more products we make and sell to other countries, the more jobs we support right here in America'. I couldn't agree more."