Kansas Agricultural Alliance

816 SW Tyler Street, Topeka, 66612, 785.234.0463

May 1, 2015

The Honorable The Honorable 109 Hart Senate Office Building 521 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable The Honorable 1110 Longworth House Office Building 1526 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Kevin Yoder The Honorable 215 Cannon House Office Building 436 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515

Dear Senators Roberts and Moran and Representatives Huelskamp, Jenkins, Yoder and Pompeo:

The undersigned organizations, representing farmers, ranchers, agricultural processors and service providers, and other agricultural-related industries of Kansas, wish to express their strong support for introduction and passage of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) at the earliest possible time. The Kansas food and agricultural sector, as well as agriculture nationwide, is heavily dependent on continued strong growth in exports. We must continue to push for greater access to foreign markets and this is only possible through trade agreements and TPA.

As a result of trade agreements implemented since 1989, when the U.S. began using bilateral and regional trade agreements to open foreign markets to our goods, U.S. agricultural exports have nearly quadrupled in value and are now valued at a record $150.5 billion. During that period, earnings from U.S. agricultural exports as a share of cash receipts to farmers have grown from 22% to 35%. In 2013, agricultural products valued at $5 billion were exported from Kansas.

Farm and food exports have a positive multiplier effect throughout the U.S. economy. Every $1 in U.S. farm exports stimulates an additional $1.22 in business activity, according to USDA. That means exports generated more than $334 billion in economic activity nationally and $11 billion in Kansas.

Trade agreements made these exports possible. Securing these trade agreements was made possible by enactment of trade promotion authority laws. Those laws gave U.S. negotiators the ability to extract the best deals possible from other countries. Without it, no country will be willing to make the toughest concessions to us – the ones that most benefit us – if they fear that Congress will subsequently demand more. Trade agreements would break down without TPA.

On the other hand, rejecting TPA would not be free of serious consequences. Nations around the world are negotiating bilateral trade deals. If competitors gain free access to our biggest markets while we continue to face substantial import barriers, our markets will inevitably shrink. Standing still on trade is falling behind. This would be a self-inflicted wound, no different in effect than an export embargo, which our producers will not tolerate. In short, trade agreements, such as those being negotiated with eleven other countries under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and with the European Union under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), cannot achieve U.S. goals without TPA.

In the TPP talks, the Administration is working hard to complete a high-standard, 21st century deal that will eliminate barriers to our exports and raise standards within the TPP nations. Should Congress not pass TPA, a clear and unfortunate message would be sent to our TPP partners and to the world. The U.S. would be turning its back on the fastest growing economic region in the world. The economic cost to the United States and to Kansas from a failed TPP would be more than opportunity lost. It could result in a real loss of exports, market share, and jobs.

TPP is the most important regional trade negotiation ever undertaken. Both the United States and our partners in TPP will be better off with a robust, high standard TPP than without it. If TPP is to become a reality, Congress must pass TPA. We strongly urge you to support Kansas agricultural producers and vote for TPA.

Thank you for your consideration. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Aaron Popelka, President Kansas Agricultural Alliance

Randy Stookey, Vice President Kansas Agricultural Alliance

Kim Christiansen, Secretary/Treasurer Kansas Agricultural Alliance

Kansas Agricultural Alliance members consist of statewide farm, livestock, commodity, cooperative, agri-business and agri-service organizations. Its purpose is to promote the general welfare of agriculture and rural communities within the State and Nation, with special emphasis upon legislative activities affecting agriculture, rural areas and cooperative services.