April 10, 2008

Farm Bureau president to participate in trade discussions

RICHMOND—When American Farm Bureau Trade Advisory Committee members meet with international trade ambassadors and World Trade Organization officials in Geneva this September, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation President Wayne F. Pryor will be there.

Pryor was named to the AFBF trade committee in January. He is one of 10 state Farm Bureau presidents serving three-year terms.

The role of the 20-year-old trade committee is to act in an advisory capacity to AFBF directors, administration and staff regarding international trade issues, said Rosemarie Watkins, AFBF director of public policy for international issues. “The group was formed to help guide AFBF trade policy and represent the organization domestically and internationally. Its members have received in-depth briefings on trade and international issues confronting U.S. agriculture.”

Committee members attend international meetings to gain knowledge of the dynamics and complexity of world trade.

Pryor said he’s honored to serve on the committee and is looking forward to participating in meetings with WTO negotiators this fall. “We are participating in a world market now, whether we want to or not,” he said. “It’s important for Farm Bureau to be a key player in that market.”

According the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2008 exports are expected to rise to $101 billion, up from USDA’s November estimate of $91 billion. The largest export markets are Canada and Mexico, with Japan, the European Union and China not far behind.Growth in imports is expected to increase a modest 9.3 percent from $70 billion in 2007 to $76.5 billion this year.

With all of the U.S. participation in world trade, ground rules for international commerce need to be clearly defined, which is the goal of the WTO agreements.

Watkins said that this fall’s WTO talks are crucial. “If negotiations aren’t completed before the presidential election, then there could be a considerable amount of time before we can get back to the intense level of discussions we’re engaged in now.”

Should an agreement be reached in the trade talks, TAC members will be instrumental in evaluating its merit for U.S. agriculture, Watkins said. AFBF is active in world trade issues, and “we play a pivotal role.”

Contact Pryor at 804-290-1007 or Watkins at 202-406-3668.