The U.S. is preparing for trade negotiations with the European Union. American Soybean Association Board Director and Huron, South Dakota farmer Brandon Wipf is pleased the U.S. Trade Representative has indicated he will push the E.U. to include agriculture in the talks.

He says trade negotiators should not move forward with discussions until the E.U. agrees to include agriculture in any bi-lateral trade deal.

Wipf was in Europe last spring and found many citizens in their 30s support biotechnology, which is one of the issues that needs to be worked out in any U.S. E.U. agreement.

Wipf says ASA believes long term trade solutions are crucial for the American soybean industry to bounce back from the current period of instability.