Iowa’s livestock farmers could be winners from TPP trade pact

State officials and Iowa farm groups embraced the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact announced Monday.

Although most details have yet to be disclosed, livestock industry officials say it will include substantial reductions in export tariffs for U.S. beef, pork, poultry and dairy products.

The agreement 'will reduce trade barriers” and 'allow Iowa ag products to compete on a level playing field,” said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey.

'I think it will be good for Iowa,” said Dave Miller, director of research and commodity services for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. 'It's definitely a step in the right direction.”

Miller said tariffs for U.S. grain exports already are low, but grain producers also could benefit from increased domestic demand fueled by a boost in meat and dairy exports.

'The nations in the partnership constitute a growing market, and they consume pork. It's going to be good for pork producers,” said Dysart farmer John Weber, president-elect of the National Pork Producers Council.

If the new pact is like previous free trade agreements, 'we are optimistic that tariffs will disappear over a period of years,” Weber said.

Ed Greiman, past president of the Iowa Cattleman's Association, said the deal comes as good news for an industry in need of it.

Cattle prices have fallen 34 percent in recent months, causing 'a lot of heartache” for producers, said Greiman, who raises beef cattle near Garner in north-central Iowa.

Greiman said the trade pact would reduce Japanese tariffs on imported beef there from 38 to 9 percent over 15 years.

'Asian markets especially like the well-marbled beef that Iowa produces,” he said.

Any reduction in export tariffs is a win for Iowa farmers, said Washington, Iowa, farmer Dick Gallagher, a director of the U.S. Grain Council representing the corn sector.

'Increased free trade helps the agriculture sector. We all benefit when we export more meat,” said Grant Kimberley, director of market development for the Iowa Soybean Association.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a former Iowa governor, said the countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership account for up to 42 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports, totaling $63 billion a year.

The agreement, Vilsack said, will expand agricultural exports, support stronger commodity prices, increase farm income and create more good-paying, export-related jobs.

'The advancement of this long-overdue trade agreement can help empower our businesses and citizens to compete fairly in the world market, drive job creation, and grow family incomes,” Gov. Terry Branstad said in a statement released Monday.

Debi Durham, director of the state Economic Development Authority, said 'Iowa stands to benefit immensely” from the deal, which will lower tariffs on Iowa agricultural exports, leading to more jobs.

The Pacific Rim region, she said, includes some of the world's strongest economies and best markets for Iowa's agricultural exports.

Rod Boshart of The Gazette contributed to this report.