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ARLINGTON, VA -- Trade Ministers from 12 countries, including the United States, announced in Atlanta this morning the conclusion of trade negotiations under the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).
USA Rice has been engaged with U.S. negotiators for several years to ensure that rice market access is improved as part of any final TPP deal and we appreciate the substantial effort and work put in by U.S. negotiators. As with previous TPP negotiating sessions and Ministerial meetings, USA Rice was represented in Atlanta by member leaders and staff who provided technical and policy guidance to U.S. negotiators.
Administration officials are now finalizing the documents making up the agreement and U.S. law requires that the TPP text be made available to the public sixty days prior to submission of the agreement to Congress for approval.
USA Rice Chairman Dow Brantley, a rice farmer from Arkansas, said, "USA Rice will review the documents in detail when available and will, in consultation with our leadership, decide whether the market access gains are significant enough for us to support passage in Congress."
Brantley continued, "USA Rice also thanks Members of Congress and congressional leaders for their strong support and advocacy for an agreement that provides meaningful benefits for U.S. rice. Rice is nearly always a sensitive commodity in trade negotiations and the TPP was no exception. USA Rice will continue to remain in close contact with Congress as we assess the agreement."
The 12 TPP partners are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam.
Contact: Bob Cummings (703) 236-1473
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TPP Trade Ministers wrap it up in Atlanta
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