Response to TPP & Reducing Energy Bills
Response to TPP & Reducing Energy Bills. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.
With the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal 12 nations hope that the increased cooperation will help the bottom line for all partners.
VILSACK: Over time we'll see increased trade opportunities well for the countries on the other side of the negotiating table.
That's Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack who spoke highly of the agreement.
VILSACK: Because it's going to significantly reduce the tariffs, it's going to create more of a science-based system for determining when a sanitary and photo-sanitary regulation makes sense and when it's consistent with science.
Most ag groups are praising the passage of the agreement. The pork, cattle, wheat and others applauded the action but there are still plenty of dissenters on Capital Hill. Some warned the pact would cost U.S. jobs and hurt consumers while Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, a Republican, said he feared the TPP could fail to break down trade barriers for American-made products.
Well we don't really know what kind of winter is in store for us but all the same, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Spokane has begun taking applications for SNAP's energy assistance program. The programs funding depends on the number of applications and helps resident keep their energy bills low.
That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.
