<p> The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is establishing the foundation to allow the U.S. fresh produce industry greater accessibility to the Pan-Asian markets. Agriculture is a big part of this deal. As one of the largest trade agreements in the world, this partnership can help the U.S. grow current markets, open doors to new markets, and set ground rules for resolving trade disputes between countries, which helps to increase access. When completed, this partnership will span countries that currently account for 61% of total U.S. goods exports.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The twelve countries currently part of the agreement are the U.S., Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Canada, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and Japan. Richard Owen, PMA’s Vice President of Global Business Development, tells AndNowUKnow, “The U.S. sector represents $59 billion in trade to the TPP region for 2012 in terms of agricultural exports – meat and food grains such as rice in particular. If you take a deeper look, produce exports to the eleven other countries – largely fruit – represents $3.1 billion collectively. Citrus and apple exports are the leading fresh fruit commodities.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">One outcome of the Trans-Pacific Partnership is providing developed countries (such as the U.S.) the opportunity to improve conditions in developed countries thereby increasing international access to those markets. Essentially, this can help raise global production standards. By creating these partnerships, the agreement can bring in new, unique offerings into each portfolio and boost the economy. “Making these investments raises the ship for everyone,” Owen tells us.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Although it’s now toward its twentieth round of negotiations, there are still some non-agricultural related issues yet to be negotiated before it goes back to the U.S. Congress for final approval. There is little opposition for fresh produce provisions because of the benefits of setting ground rules for negotiating future trade disputes between these twelve countries.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we track the progress of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/fact-sheets/2011/november/united-states-trans-pacific-partnership" target="_new"> Trans-Pacific Partnership </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
