While most U.S. farm groups favor the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, “agriculture is not unanimously supporting this,” says Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union. During a teleconference, Johnson said NFU and a range of TPP opponents view the lame-duck congressional session as the most likely time for a vote on the free trade agreement, so they are mobilizing to block it. “I believe a TPP vote would fail if it were held before the (general) election,” said Johnson. The NFU and dozens of other groups sent a letter to lawmakers saying TPP was unlikely to help farmers and ranchers. Imports are likely to negate any gains in farm exports, they said.
“We’re being taken for a ride,” said Minnesota Rep. Rick Nolan during the tele-conference. “That’s why we’re determined to defeat it in Congress.”
Proponents have begun a push for a vote this year on TPP, rather than wait for the new administration to take office in January. The leading candidates for president have criticized TPP. “I don’t see us voting on it before the lame duck session,” said Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow earlier this week. “I think it’s a close call.”