WASHINGTON - The American Soybean Association (ASA) called on the House of Representatives today to take up and pass legislation to empower the Obama Administration to negotiate international trade agreements. The call follows the Senate’s passage of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act, which extends Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to the White House, and more specifically to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), as the Administration looks to finalize trade agreements with countries along the Pacific Rim in the coming months and with Europe in the near future. ASA President and Texas farmer Wade Cowan issued the following statement, in which he underscored the need for quick approval of TPA: “The Senate took the first step today to ensure that the success of American farmers in international markets can continue. For the past fifteen years, soybean farmers have been the leading ambassadors for American agriculture overseas, in large part due to the ability of USTR to craft agreements that maximize access for our products in markets around the world. Since 2007, however, our ability to maintain this role has been hampered by the absence of Trade Promotion Authority. In that time, despite valiant efforts by USTR, we haven’t been able to be as aggressive in crafting new agreements as our competitors in South America, which have caught up and, in some cases, eclipsed us. “But today’s vote has changed that. We’re a step away from equipping our negotiators with the tools they need to fully represent the interests of American soybean farmers. We thank Chairman Hatch and Ranking Member Wyden for their persistence on this bill, and we look forward to Chairman Ryan’s efforts in the House. It is imperative that House members recognize the potential of trade agreements to contribute to the success of the American economy in general, and our farm economy in particular. We call on all members of the House to support TPA when it comes to the floor in June, and we look forward to getting back to business overseas.”