The American Farm Bureau Federation is calling the Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy a good first step, but says that more work is needed.
Congressional Relations Director Dave Salmonsen says that the Biden blueprint will help the U.S. build relationships with countries in the region. He adds that while the strategy may have benefits for agriculture, the U.S. is long overdue for a binding multi-lateral trade agreement.
“What it doesn’t include is a notion of having negotiations towards binding trade agreements,” Salmonsen states. “The administration has decided, at least so far, not to rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership and that’s something that Farm Bureau is strongly in favor of, and we want to see this develop so that we have binding commitment among nations, and expand opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports.”
The strategy also looks to boost security and enhance economic engagement.
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