House Members Tell Lighthizer Ag Must Be in EU Trade Agreement

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is pushing for agriculture to be on the table in trade talks with the European Union, and members of Congress continue to applaud that approach. A bipartisan group of 114 House members sent a letter March 14 to the USTR arguing that the EU has high tariffs on ag imports, "unscientific sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and protectionist policies on geographical indications that hurt American exports not only to the EU but also to countries all over the world." The letter -- led by Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Ind., Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., and Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn. -- says that a deal without agriculture would significantly jeopardize congressional support. The EU Parliament, in a non-binding vote this week, could not pass a resolution that said the EU should enter trade talks that include industrial goods and exclude agriculture. In order to start talks, all 28 member states have to approve a negotiating mandate.