New USDA fact sheets illustrate benefits of TPP

Source: USDA
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a series of fact sheets Oct. 7 illustrating how the newly reached Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement can boost the U.S. agriculture industry, supporting more American jobs and driving the nation’s rural economy. Created by the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the fact sheets graphically depict how each state and individual commodities stand to benefit from increased agricultural trade with the 11 other TPP countries.
Trade ministers from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam concluded TPP negotiations on Oct. 5 in Atlanta, Ga. Trade with these countries accounted for 42 percent of U.S. agricultural exports in 2014, contributing $63 billion to the U.S. economy.
“Increased demand for American agricultural products and expanded agricultural exports as a result of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement will support stronger commodity prices and increase farm income. Increased exports will support more good paying export-related jobs, further strengthening the rural economy,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “All of this activity benefits rural communities and keeps American agriculture on the cutting edge of global commerce. The TPP agreement will contribute to the future strength of American agriculture and helps to ensure that the historic agricultural trade gains achieved under President Obama since 2009 will continue.”
The United States runs an agricultural trade surplus which benefits farmers, ranchers, and all those who live, work and raise families in rural America. Agricultural trade supports more than one million American jobs. TPP will remove unfair trade barriers and help further the global expansion of American agricultural exports, particularly exports of meat, poultry, dairy, fruits, vegetables, grains, oilseeds, cotton and processed products.
The information released today illustrates benefits for key commodities and all 50 states. Learn more about TPP and its benefits to the agricultural economy at http://www.fas.usda.gov/tpp. Here is just a snapshot of how the TPP would boost exports of some U.S. food and agricultural products:
Beef and Veal
Japan’s beef tariff, currently as high as 50 percent, will be reduced to nine percent. Japan will eliminate duties on 75 percent of tariff lines, including processed beef products. Vietnam will eliminate tariffs and Malaysia will lock tariffs in at zero percent.
Pork
Japan will eliminate duties on nearly 80 percent of tariff lines, including processed pork. Remaining tariffs will be cut and the “Gate Price” system significantly altered. Nearly all Malaysian tariffs will be locked in at zero percent and Vietnam will eliminate tariffs.
Fruits
Japan, Malaysia, and Vietnam will eliminate tariffs on all fresh and processed fruits, including citrus.
Vegetables
Malaysia and Vietnam will immediately eliminate all tariffs, and Japan nearly all tariffs, on fresh and processed vegetables. All three countries will eliminate tariffs on potatoes and potato products.
Rice
Japan, which excluded rice from its prior trade agreements, will establish a new, duty-free quota for U.S. rice. Malaysia and Vietnam will eliminate tariffs.