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Farmers for Free Trade says U.S. farmers are missing out on the CPTPP

The executive director of Farmers for Free Trade says U.S. farmers are at a disadvantage now that the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership is in effect.

Brian Kuehl says other countries are benefiting from an agreement that the U.S. used to be part of.

“The other 11 countries didn’t sit still- they’ve moved forward and are developing this large trading block among themselves,” he says. “We’re standing on the sidelines and that’s what is really sad and disappointing.”

He tells Brownfield the CPTPP would have helped level the playing field with China.

“It was a powerful counterweight to china because it was all the countries in that area, except China, working together,” he says.

But, Kuehl says the organization is pleased the Trump administration is seeking a bilateral trade agreement with Japan.

“The proof is in the pudding and if we got a really good deal with japan it could be a great thing,” he says. “We’re hopeful and applaud the administration for trying bilateral deals.”

Trump pulled the U.S. out of the TPP, now known as the CPTPP, in January 2017.