Louisiana's food and agriculture exports to the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) signatories totaled just under $2 billion last year and are up 52% so far in 2012. And if Japan and Korea join the club, expect it to be an even more important trading block for farmers and ranchers in our state.
Sure, the U.S. already has free trade agreements with many individual countries in this group, but TPP gives us a chance to gain more access as we fix loose ends that got taken off the table when negotiating them. Korea held firm on opening up their rice market; Hopes are that our rice farmers may eventually get another chance ...
