FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Business Leaders Urge Congress to Enact Farm Reforms that are Critical to Increase Access to Foreign Markets
Changes Necessary to Reduce Subsidies, Stabilize World Markets and Inoculate U.S. from Unwarranted WTO Attacks
Contact:
Scott Openshaw, Director, Communications, 202-295-3957
Brian Kennedy, Director, Communications, 202-639-5994
(Washington, D.C.) In a letter to Senate and House leaders, Cal Dooley, president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), today joined leading business groups in calling on Congress to reform federal farm policy.
“It is time for Congress to reform our outdated farm policy to better serve the needs of rural America and the entire U.S. economy,” said Dooley. “That is why GMA and this broad coalition of business leaders, who represent tens of millions of U.S. workers, are calling on Congress to approve a farm bill that reduces subsidies and fosters an environment more conducive to eliminating trade barriers to U.S. products.”
The letter (attached) was signed by GMA, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Retail Federation, the Information Technology Industry Council and the Retail Industry Leaders Association. It outlined three major farm-reform policy goals:
A reduction in excessive subsidies The elimination of substantial domestic and international agricultural market distortions The protection of basic U.S. farm policies from unwarranted World Trade Organization (WTO) attacks
These reforms will lay the groundwork for a successful conclusion to the Doha Round negotiations, that would include meaningful commercial market access for all U.S. exports, including agricultural and non-agricultural goods and services. The Doha Round trade negotiations of the WTO, underway since 2001, are currently at an impasse.
The House Agriculture Committee is expected to begin consideration of a new farm bill Tuesday, July 17.
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The Grocery Manufacturers Association GMA represents the world’s leading food, beverage and consumer products companies. The association promotes sound public policy, champions initiatives that increase productivity and growth and helps to protect the safety and security of the food supply through scientific excellence. The GMA board of directors is comprised of chief executive officers from the Association’s member companies. The $2.1 trillion food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry employs 14 million workers, and contributes over $1 trillion in added value to the nation’s economy. For more information, visit the GMA Web site at www.gmabrands.com
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The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) represents the world’s leading food, beverage and consumer products companies. The Association promotes sound public policy, champions initiatives that increase productivity and growth and helps ensure the safety and security of consumer packaged goods through scientific excellence. The GMA board of directors is comprised of chief executive officers from the Association’s member companies. The $2.1 trillion food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry employs 14 million workers, and contributes over $1 trillion in added value to the nation’s economy. For more information, visit the GMA Web site at www.gmaonline.org
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