U.S. Wheat Associates
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Advocating for Open Markets
HOME > WHAT WE DO > INFLUENCING TRADE POLICY

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is dedicated to creating a level trade playing field that allows U.S. wheat producers to participate in export markets worldwide. We offer analyses, perspectives, and recommendations on trade policy issues that potentially affect export market access and have the potential to impede sales. Although most of USW activities are conducted overseas, market development programs begin in the United States, where government policy can affect the sales of millions of tons of wheat each year. USW supports wheat trade policies that provide for open and fair competition. USW regularly submits comments to the U.S. government on policies impacting wheat exports.

Free Trade Agreements, WTO and Beyond
USW supports free trade through multilateral, regional, and bilateral trade agreements. USW believes that a comprehensive and ambitious WTO agreement is the best opportunity to achieve new global sales of U.S.-origin wheat. At the same time, we continue to support an aggressive bilateral and multilateral trade agenda based on the success of previous agreements for U.S. wheat exports such as NAFTA and CAFTA/DR. We support the immediate ratification of pending trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. Click here to learn more.

Competitiveness
USW is involved in providing input on and conducting analyses of various government policies that can impact U.S. wheat exports including sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues, export credits, monopoly powers of export state trading enterprises such as the Canadian Wheat Board, and sanctioned country sales, among others. Click here to learn more.

Food Aid - Wheat is for Life
USW works with the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID), USDA, and many other non-governmental organizations on issues impacting the use of wheat in food aid programs. Click here to learn more.

Biotechnology
USW supports the eventual commercialization of biotech wheat and while this goal is at least a decade away for the United States, USW continues to work in concert with industry partners to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the concerns of our loyal overseas customers. Click here to learn more.

Cuba
USW supports full normalization of trade relations with Cuba and actively meets and works with the buying agency in Cuba, Alimport, to help them procure wheat from the United States. USW has submitted testimony and numerous white papers and position pieces promoting, as an immediate step in the normalization process, the full lifting of the travel ban so that all U.S. and Cuban citizens can travel freely between our respective nations and easing of current payment restrictions that add burdensome administrative requirements to Cuban purchases of U.S. wheat. Click here to learn more.
Trade Agreements
The Harvest

Study Confirms Trade Agreements Lift U.S. Farm Exports; Progress is Needed

A new study shows trade agreements directly increase U.S. ag exports, cash prices, and job growth, yet the U.S. risks falling behind its more aggressive export competitors. “There is a lot of talk about trade right now and this study offers proof that existing trade agreements are working for American agriculture,” said USW Director of Policy Rebecca Bratter. “We hope this new information will finally end the delay on ratifying pending free trade agreements.”

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Biotechnology

U.S. Consumers Support Plant Biotechnology as Sustainable Production

The International Food Information Council (IFIC) 2010 “Consumer Perceptions of Food Technology” survey found that consumers support the use of food biotechnology when they consider its potential benefits for reducing environmental impact. The survey indicated that 80% of consumers would be likely to purchase food containing wheat grown using plant biotechnology if produced with sustainable practices.

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