WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.  — With the signing of trade promotion authority (TPA) by U.S. President Barack Obama on June 29, there is increased opportunity to create and strengthen international trade agreements, opening valuable markets and providing an advantage for U.S. farmers, U.S. agriculture groups said.
 
TPA gives the administration the authority to bring final negotiated trade agreements to Congress for an up or down vote with no amendments.

 
"TPA is a key tool for U.S. trade negotiators to successfully finalize upcoming trade agreements, so overseas market opportunities for the U.S. animal food industry and American agriculture broadly can be realized as soon as possible,” said Joel Newman, president and chief executive officer, American Feed Industry Association (AFIA).
 
"TPA will provide the U.S. animal food industry access to growing world markets. AFIA thanks Congress for recognizing the importance of TPA in order to continue growth in the animal food and agricultural industries. This growth will help ensure and create U.S. jobs, along with economically stronger rural communities.

"Now that TPA is law, ongoing trade negotiations, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the TransAtlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, can move more quickly to completion, an outcome considered near impossible without TPA.”
 
The American Soybean Association (ASA) said new trade agreements will expand livestock product exports, which are also important for U.S. soybean farmers. ASA thanked the hundreds of farmers who contacted their lawmakers and worked to make soy growers’ voices heard on TPA for the past several months.
 
The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) said TPA is a step forward for American wheat growers.
 
“Now we need a TPP agreement that will help growers overcome the tariff advantages a lot of our competitors get through free trade agreements with importing countries. That is important because wheat demand in many of those countries is growing rapidly and we can’t afford to lose out,” said Roy Motter, USW chairman.