Wednesday, both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate are expected to vote on U.S. Free Trade Agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. The American Soybean Association is urging Congress to swiftly pass the implementing legislation so the FTAs may enter into force as soon as possible.

To make sure all goes well, ASA is soliciting active grassroots support. In an ASA action alert, soybean growers are being asked to contact Members of Congress as soon as possible before Wednesday’s vote and emphasize the need for passage of the pending U.S. trade agreements. Contact information is available at: www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml.

ASA leadership points to five talking points:  1/ The trade agreements represent nearly 3-billion dollars of additional agricultural exports. 2/ Previous lost U.S. market share and economic growth. 3/ The Colombia FTA will immediately eliminate tariffs on soybeans, soybean meal and soybean flour, and phase-out tariffs for crude soybean oil and refined soybean oil over 5 years. 4/ The Korea FTA will increase exports of the major grain, oilseed, fiber, fruit and vegetable, and livestock products by 1.8-billion dollars annually.  And 5/ The Panama FTA will remove immediately the tariffs on U.S. soybeans, soybean meal, and crude vegetable oils.