Chuck Hagel: “I rise today to support the U.S.-Chile and U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreements, which are now before the Senate. These…”

“I rise today to support the U.S.-Chile and U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreements, which are now before the Senate. These agreements are the first to be considered under the expedited Trade Promotion Authority, TPA, procedure that Congress passed last year. Ratification of these agreements will provide significant benefits to agricultural producers and the U.S. economy. Strong bipartisan votes will send an important message that the U.S. Congress is strongly committed to growing the U.S. economy and helping American farmers and workers succeed in an ever-growing competitive global marketplace. Both the U.S.-Singapore and U.S.-Chile free trade agreements will level the playing field for U.S. products and farm goods. Specifically, both agreements will eliminate the use of subsidies on agricultural exports, a major step forward for U.S. agriculture in WTO negotiations. There is a clear link between a healthy agricultural sector and trade. More than 43,000 Nebraskans hold jobs related to agriculture exports. Nebraska ranks fourth nationally in exports of agricultural products-- an estimated $3.14 billion in 2002. In 2002, Nebraska farmers and ranchers saw increased international sales of corn, soybeans, and wheat, and depend on the ability to export their products to the rest of the world for continued growth. The U.S.-Singapore free trade agreement will strengthen an important relationship and serve as our first free trade agreement with an Asian nation.”