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Expanding trade in Europe that goes beyond environmental restrictions

A Senate Republican says he would like the US to expand export markets in Europe, but misinformation could be preventing significant growth.

Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, says some countires believe that US ag products are not environmentally friendly and discussing sustainability efforts helps improve relations. “To be able to get our European allies to understand the science behind the technology we use to create our great products, so they don’t unfairly keep them out.  It’s quite unscientific, some of the rules they have, and we want to make sure we’re on a level playing field with the rest of the world.”

He tells Brownfield there continues to be a bias against US agriculture. “We’ve got to work very, very hard to overcome that.  It starts with education, and providing the science to them so they start to understand where we’re coming form. No doubt, it’s going to be a long road on this, but we can’t get anywhere until we start.”  

Ricketts says he will continue to maintain trading relationships in Europe that he established as governor.