Comments to the submitted to U.S. Trade Representative on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework

VIA REGULATIONS.GOV
PUBLIC DOCUMENT

Ambassador Katherine Tai
U.S. Trade Representative
Office of the United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20006

Re: Docket No. USTR-2022-0002 – Request for Comments on the Proposed Fair and Resilient Trade Pillar of an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, 87 Fed. Reg. 13789 (Office of the United States Trade Representative March 10, 2022)

Dear Ambassador Tai:

CropLife America (CLA) provides this submission in response to the request for comments on a proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) put forward by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). CLA, established in 1933, represents the developers, manufacturers, formulators, and distributors of plant science solutions for agriculture and pest management in the United States. CLA’s member companies produce, sell, and distribute virtually all the pesticide products used by U.S. farmers, ranchers, and landowners to ensure healthy crops and strong yields.

Together with its members, CLA works to ensure that our companies can provide environmentally sustainable agricultural products that support a safe food supply and reduce the risks posed by destructive pests and plant diseases. Similarly, pesticide products provide benefits to plant nurseries as well as turf protection for areas such as sports fields, golf courses, and lawns. Pesticidal chemicals also prevent public health problems by controlling and repelling harmful disease vectors such as mosquitos and ticks. Pesticides play a crucial role in supporting healthy food, healthy people, and a healthy planet.

U.S. farmers depend on pesticides to grow a healthy and safe food crop as well as other agriculture products including fibers, lumber, and fuel for consumers domestically and around the world. Without modern pesticides, insect pests, weeds, and crop diseases would destroy or reduce crop yields and quality and substantially reduce the availability of U.S.-grown farm and food products. Many U.S.-grown crops are exported to the Indo-Pacific region, so policies that adversely impact trade in this region are of paramount concern to U.S. growers and CLA.

The Indo-Pacific is a vital region for global agricultural production and consumption. Working towards free and open trade among responsible trading partners in this region should be a top priority for USTR. This would enhance food security and create opportunities to thrive for farmers, workers and companies involved in agricultural supply chains across the region.

Read the full comments submitted by CropLife America.