WHEAT farming groups in the United States have expressed relief that President Trump has directed US trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, and National Economic Council director, Larry Kudlow, to begin negotiating for the United States to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

US Wheat Associates (USW) chairman and wheat farmer from Ritzville, Washington State, Michael Miller, said the US reconsidering joining the TPP was the best way for the US to avoid a potentially devastating loss of wheat sales to Japan.

“If the United States joins TPP, US wheat should be able to compete on a level playing field with Canadian and Australian wheat, which will soon have a major advantage once TPP is implemented. That would keep US wheat sales that currently represent 50 per cent of Japan’s total wheat imports competitive in this crucial market,” he said.

National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) president and wheat grower from Sentinel, Oklahoma, Jimmie Musick, said it was encouraging that the President was taking the step.

“If we can find a way to join this trade agreement, it will go a long way toward helping protect the incomes of every American wheat farmer. We also want to thank the members of Congress who pushed very hard to see this opening,” he said.

Source: USW, NAWG