WASHINGTON – The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and the National Chicken Council (NCC) issued statements announcing their support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement reached today in Atlanta.
NAMI President and CEO Barry Carpenter said TPP will cut trade barriers and set common standards for more than 40 percent of the global economy.
“It is essential to the stability and long-term viability of our industry by expanding US beef, pork, lamb and poultry exports,” Carpenter said. “The agreement holds enormous potential for American meat exports, and levels the playing field for American workers and business in the world’s fastest growing economic region.”
NCC President Mike Brown said the NCC applauds US Trade Representative Michael Froman and his team of negotiators for their years of work on the TPP.
“The TPP represents a significant opportunity to expand US chicken exports and bring increased economic benefits to chicken farmers and companies across the country,” Brown added.
Carpenter noted that TPP will strengthen the meat and poultry industry’s strategic relationships with trade partners in the Asia-Pacific region, enhance its competitiveness and support high-paying American jobs, while promoting transparency, driving innovation and supporting robust labor standards.
“The Meat Institute looks forward to reviewing the final text and to working with Congress to ensure its full approval and implementation,” Carpenter added.
Brown said the NCC’s major goals in the deal are to get a strong commitment on enforcement, in particular in the area of sanitary and phytosanitary measures. Also, Brown said the NCC hopes that the long-protected Canadian market is finally opened to free trade for poultry.
“We look forward to reviewing what we hope will be a commercially meaningful and high standard agreement that will open markets and increase US chicken exports,” Brown added.
