US farm group urges gov't to back FTAs

The American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman said approving the agricultural trade agreements would be a great way to answer President Obama's call for doubling US exports over the next five years.

Stallman noted that about 25% of the total volume of US farm production is exported, and many US commodities have a much higher dependence on trade.

The Colombia, Panama and Korea combined free trade agreements represent almost US$3 billion in increased US agricultural exports.

According to Stallman, major trade competitors of the US are moving forward with their own trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, yet the US remains hindered in these markets due to congressional inaction.

He said competing nations are also negotiating other bilateral and regional agreements that are reducing US agriculture's competitiveness and market share around the world.

He estimated that by the end of 2010, there will be more than 600 bilateral and regional trade agreements worldwide with the US engaged in fewer than 25.

''We hope that the president's call for doubling exports in five years will result in a new emphasis on increasing US market access through trade negotiations and speedy enactment of the pending trade agreements,'' he said.