50 members of Congress have sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer urging him to move quickly on a phase two trade agreement with Japan. The Nebraska Farm Bureau supports that effort. Director of National Affairs Jordan Dux says not only do they support a phase two deal with Japan but also want movement on more trade pacts.
He says America’s farmers and ranchers need all the economic help they can get and passing trade agreements is a good way to deal with the negative impacts of the pandemic.
Dux says the U.S. needs to continue forging new trade pacts, whether it be phase two with Japan, FTAs with Kenya as well as the United Kingdom and European Union.
Currently the U.S. is at a disadvantage with trade with Japan due to them having their own FTA with the European Union and also being part of the Comprehensive Trans Pacific Partnership. Dux hopes that if a phase two section can be achieved that may help offset some of that.
