A group comprised of over 50 agricultural groups—including the American Farm Bureau Federation, North American Meat Institute, and Leather & Hide Council of America—recently penned a letter to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, asking to stay in the World Trade Organization (WTO).
“Continued U.S. membership and active participation will help ensure that necessary reforms are undertaken, and that the WTO will continue to play an important and effective role in economic development of the United States and our trading partners,” the letter read. “As long as exports are important to U.S. agriculture, WTO membership will be essential as well.”
The groups noted the WTO gives U.S. producers and exporters most-favored nation treatment in 163 countries, representing over 80 percent of the global economy. With more than 20 percent of ag production destined for foreign markets, U.S. agriculture is heavily dependent on exports, the letter read.
