U.S. Should Stand by Its Agriculture in South Korea Deal

Fair and open trade with South Korea will only benefit both of our economies. South Korea exports 700,000 cars to the United States each year. In Wyoming, we export soda ash to South Korea, a main ingredient in making glass. Wyoming has expanding opportunities in South Korea in manufacturing, but I’d like to see more access for agriculture products, such as U.S. beef.

It seems to me that United States agricultural products, in particular, face unwarranted barriers. One of the important issues facing Congress is development of a global trade policy that will open worldwide markets to American companies and products. I wrote to the Administration in May and December 2006 to urge them to resolve the issue with beef before continuing with trade negotiations. The United States should continue to assert itself in trade agreements and certainly must stand up for fair treatment for agricultural exports.