Expressing the sense that Congress and the administration must work together, with urgency, to pursue effective food and agricultural trade policies.
H. Res. 230 is a House resolution that expresses a sense of Congress that the legislative and executive branches must act with urgency to pursue effective U.S. food and agricultural trade policies. It highlights the vital role of U.S. agriculture for national prosperity and global food security, notes trade and export challenges (including a projected trade deficit and recent declines in export value), and calls for a coordinated 6-part approach. Although a resolution itself does not create new law or authorize spending, it signals congressional priorities and can influence policy direction by urging stronger collaboration, enforcement, promotion, and use of trade agreements and dispute-resolution mechanisms to expand market access and reduce barriers for U.S. agriculture.
Key Points
- 1Renew a renewed commitment to secure new and expanded market access and maintain global competitiveness for U.S. food and agriculture.
- 2Strong support for domestic trade promotion programs that benefit all sectors of U.S. agriculture.
- 3Consider comprehensive trade agreements with key partners, focusing on lowering tariffs and resolving unwarranted trade barriers to open markets for U.S. exports.
- 4Enforce market access commitments in existing multilateral and bilateral trade agreements and improve procedures to enforce U.S. trade laws for agricultural producers.
- 5Eliminate unwarranted non-tariff trade barriers through effective dispute settlement and pursue a science-based global trading system for food and agriculture via bilateral/regional agreements and the WTO/other international bodies.