WASHINGTON — The American Farm Bureau Federation, Coalition of Service Industries and the National Association of Manufacturers are putting forth a comprehensive approach to double U.S. exports in five years — a goal of President Barack Obama.
Under this approach, the three organizations outlined policy changes needed to improve market access and level the playing field in the global market.
Policy changes
They believe the following recommendations are necessary to achieving this goal: enact pending trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea; pursue new trade agreements; reduce nontariff barriers; improve competitiveness with investments in infrastructure and trade facilitation initiatives; pursue a Doha Round agreement that expands world trade; and improve export promotion efforts and financing policies.
“Growth in U.S. agricultural exports will be achieved with aggressive actions to expand market opportunities and reduce trade barriers,” said American Farm Bureau Federation Director of International Policy Rosemarie Watkins.
“If drastic changes are not made to double exports, our nation’s manufactured goods exports will fall nearly $300 billion short of the president’s goal in 2014,” said National Association of Manufacturers Vice President of International Economic Affairs Frank Vargo.
