Vilsack to Congress: You want FTAs? Pass TPA

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday faced questions from senators about agricultural trade numbers and the administration’s aversion to traditional, tariff-cutting trade deals. In response, he offered up a solution the administration has not requested: Trade Promotion Authority. During a hearing before the Senate Agriculture Committee, Vilsack was questioned by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) about the Agriculture Department’s new estimate of an ag trade deficit set to exceed $30 billion in 2024, which has prompted concern among some lawmakers ...