From the Produce Marketing Association:
Newark, Del. — Richard Owen, vice president of global business development for Produce Marketing Association, issued the following statement praising the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote on the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA 2015):
“We are well aware the process is not finished. We’re pleased the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) today – this action supports the global trade needs of members across the fresh produce and floral industries. U.S. consumers expect year-round supplies of fresh produce and floral products, and that means our industry is dependent upon sourcing product from around the world. This bill comes at a very important time, especially considering the negotiations underway for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). We look forward to the next steps in the process to get TPA to the President’s desk.”
The U.S. is a significant fresh produce exporter with more than 6.7 million tons exported in 2014 equaling $9.7 billion, with top export destinations including Mexico, Canada and Japan. At the same time, the U.S. is also the largest importer of fresh produce globally, importing 17.2 million tons in 2014 totaling $18 billion.