u.s. agriculture officials warned thursday that farmers, ranchers and food companies could lose out in the long-term if lawmakers shy away from pursuing big trade deals. while some hold out hope that the trans-pacific partnership, a wide-ranging trade bill championed by the obama administration, could yet pass this year , concerns are growing that the u.s. elections may spur a more protectionist stance that could shrink u.s. exports of agricultural goods ranging from meat to grains and dairy. <u+201c>the issue of trade has become a political football, unfortunately,<u+201d> said julie maschhoff, co-owner and vice president of the maschhoffs llc, an illinois pork producer. the wall street journal gathered leading executives in agribusiness, consumer products and government to explore key challenges and opportunities in the business of food. ms. maschhoff, speaking at the wsj global food forum in new york, estimated that about one-quarter of u.s. pork is exported, and trade agreements are critical to expanding those sales as u.s. pork production ramps up. <u+201c>otherwise, it<u+2019>s that much more pork we have to consume here in the u.s.,<u+201d> ms. maschhoff said. u.s. farmers and ranchers broadly have been supportive of tpp, seeing the chance to break into japan<u+2019>s lucrative rice market for the first time, and potentially securing significant reductions in tariffs for markets in southeast asia and canada. both presidential candidates, however, have criticized the deal. democratic presidential nominee hillary clinton has said she would seek significant changes to the agreement if she became president. republican presidential nominee donald trump has said he would scrap it, and also seek to renegotiate the north american free trade agreement. <u+201c>historically, it<u+2019>s hard to remember an administration that has not supported vigorous and free trade,<u+201d> said will rodger, spokesman for the american farm bureau federation. <u+201c>u.s. agriculture is clearly among the biggest winners, if not the biggest winner, in this agreement,<u+201d> he said, referring to the trans-pacific partnership. darci vetter, ambassador and chief agricultural negotiator for the office of the u.s. trade representative, said at the wsj event that she saw <u+201c>a narrow window<u+201d> to approve the pacific trade agreement in the lame-duck session, following the november election. <u+201c>i<u+2019>m an eternal optimist,<u+201d> ms. vetter said, and implementing tpp would help keep the u.s. on <u+201c>a level playing field<u+201d> with competing countries. write to jacob bunge at jacob.bunge@wsj.com
u.s. agriculture officials advocate trade deals  - wsj
jacob bunge