WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) introduced an amendment today to protect United States agricultural products.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has been considering ill-advised proposals that would create a new and troubling precedent and undermine existing trade disciplines instead of focusing on opening markets and ensuring fair treatment for U.S. agricultural and food exports.  As a consequence, U.S. farmers and agricultural processors could be the targets of a narrow, parochial set of regulatory interests in overseas markets.

“I have heard from many Kentucky farmers who are concerned about the impact the proposal by elements of the Obama administration would have on their products and their business,” Sen. McConnell said.  “This amendment would ensure trade negotiations would not be biased against any U.S. agricultural product and protect our farmers from unfair trade agreements.”