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U.S. Not Focusing on FTA Movement in Other Countries

U.S. wheat producers are afraid that completion of a Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement will decrease U.S. wheat sales to that country. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the focus should be on a U.S. deal with South Korea first, which he says should create momentum for the FTAs with Panama and Colombia.

Vilsack says the U.S. has many advantages that should keep market shares with Colombia safe no matter what happens between that country and Canada.

"As long as we are price competitive and the quality of our product is appreciated and understood, and if the world economy begins to rebound and middle classes continue to grow and expand in these countries, I think you are going to see tremendous opportunities for American agriculture," Vilsack said.

Vilsack was in Canada last week where he and his counterpart Canadian Ag Minister Gerry Ritz agreed to promote science-based ag trade to the shared benefit of ag sectors in both countries.