Scuse takes on Denham on trade statements
August 06, 2013 | 08:58 PM
NAPA, Calif. — Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., said here today that he did not have a high opinion of the Obama administration’s performance on trade policy, prompting Agriculture Acting Deputy Secretary Michael Scuse to dispute the statement.
Answering questions after a speech to the American Sugar Alliance International Sugar Symposium here, Denham said he is “not optimistic” about Congress granting trade promotion negotiating authority, also known as fast track, to President Barack Obama.
Obama asked Congress for the authority last week, but Republicans have said that he should have asked for the authority long ago.
“This administration has been slow to act on a number of trade issues,” Denham said.
Michael Scuse
Scuse, who followed Denham on the program, said he could not let Denham’s statements rest. While Obama has been in office, Scuse said, agricultural trade has totaled “half a trillion dollars.”
“Does that sound slow to you?,” Scuse said. He also noted that the administration has opened up Japan, Hong Kong and Mexico for beef.
“This year we are looking at trade for ag at a record-breaking $140 billion,” Scuse said. “I don’t think that sounds like the administration has been slow on trade.”
Scuse also pointed out that the administration has launched the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Trans-Atlantic Trade Partnership, a negotiation with the European Union, “where trade has been stagnant for the last several years.”
Scuse refused, however, to rule out the possibility of increased access for sugar under the TPP. But he said the administration opposes reopening the free trade agreement with Australia, one of the TPP partner countries.
The U.S.-Australian free trade agreement did not give Australia free trade sugar access to the United States.
Scuse devoted most of his speech to announcing that the Agriculture Department is developing regulations for implementation of the feedstock flexibility program under which the government would buy excess sugar from growers and sell it to ethanol plants and to a call for Congress to pass the farm bill. He also said that if the farm bill expires, the Agriculture Department will not have the money to keep open overseas trade offices that are operated by U.S. groups.
Scuse, noting that Congress has voted many times to repeal the Affordable Care Act, said “Shouldn’t they be working on something more productive like the farm bill?
But he also acknowledged that his comments in reaction to Denham were off message.
“I think the secretary will like that,” Scuse said, glancing at an aide.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is traveling in Brazil.
Answering questions after a speech to the American Sugar Alliance International Sugar Symposium here, Denham said he is “not optimistic” about Congress granting trade promotion negotiating authority, also known as fast track, to President Barack Obama.
Obama asked Congress for the authority last week, but Republicans have said that he should have asked for the authority long ago.
“This administration has been slow to act on a number of trade issues,” Denham said.
Scuse, who followed Denham on the program, said he could not let Denham’s statements rest. While Obama has been in office, Scuse said, agricultural trade has totaled “half a trillion dollars.”
“Does that sound slow to you?,” Scuse said. He also noted that the administration has opened up Japan, Hong Kong and Mexico for beef.
“This year we are looking at trade for ag at a record-breaking $140 billion,” Scuse said. “I don’t think that sounds like the administration has been slow on trade.”
Scuse also pointed out that the administration has launched the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Trans-Atlantic Trade Partnership, a negotiation with the European Union, “where trade has been stagnant for the last several years.”
Scuse refused, however, to rule out the possibility of increased access for sugar under the TPP. But he said the administration opposes reopening the free trade agreement with Australia, one of the TPP partner countries.
The U.S.-Australian free trade agreement did not give Australia free trade sugar access to the United States.
Scuse devoted most of his speech to announcing that the Agriculture Department is developing regulations for implementation of the feedstock flexibility program under which the government would buy excess sugar from growers and sell it to ethanol plants and to a call for Congress to pass the farm bill. He also said that if the farm bill expires, the Agriculture Department will not have the money to keep open overseas trade offices that are operated by U.S. groups.
Scuse, noting that Congress has voted many times to repeal the Affordable Care Act, said “Shouldn’t they be working on something more productive like the farm bill?
But he also acknowledged that his comments in reaction to Denham were off message.
“I think the secretary will like that,” Scuse said, glancing at an aide.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is traveling in Brazil.
