U.S. Needs to Pass Trade Agreements, Improve Transportation to Compete in Trade
A dramatic increase in Brazil's farm productivity is sending a powerful message to U.S. policymakers.
Compiled by staff
Published: Oct 19, 2010
The Washington Post reports that with the help of U.S.-educated Brazilian scientists, Brazil has turned a once barren heartland unfit for farming into a land flourishing with new wheat varieties, corn, soybeans and cotton. American Farm Bureau Federation Trade Specialist Dave Salmonsen sees the Brazil success story as a wake up call.
"I think we've been watching Brazil for the last several decades grow their agriculture, grow their presence on the world stage as that article talked about, and bringing new lands into production," Salmonsen said. "They are putting more investment into their transportation system, which has been a weakness for them, they are starting to harness the Amazon."
Salmonsen says that will make Brazil even more competitive at a time when the U.S. has lost ground in several areas such as making sure our railroads and inland waterway systems are world-class, that we are able to compete and able to access foreign markets, by approving languishing free trade deals with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.
Salmonsen says the Brazil story shows there must be a change in attitude by U.S. policymakers, a recognition other nations will compete for foreign markets.
"We've already seen the European Union sign an agreement with South Korea ahead of us," Salmonsen said. "Canada concluded their agreement with Colombia ahead of us and will have some preferential and earlier access to that market than we will have."
Ag groups wrote earlier to President Obama to urge trade deal action as part of the National Export Initiative. The groups also drove home the message that while Congress authorized Upper Mississippi and Illinois River locks modernization a few years ago, no money's ever been appropriated.
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Tagged: farm, wheat, soybeans, SURE, Farm Bureau
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