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Media Advisory No. 0107.15 Contact: USDA Office of Communications (202) 720-4623
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Travel to Brussels, Paris to Discuss TTIP, Global Food Security, Climate Change
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to Brussels, Belgium on Nov. 30 – Dec. 1 and Paris, France from Dec. 1 – Dec. 3 to address international dignitaries and stakeholders on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), climate change, and global food security. The trip follows travel earlier this month to Cuba, Japan and China, where Vilsack also held talks with government counterparts in each of the three countries about opportunities to expand markets for American-made agricultural products.
While in Brussels, Secretary Vilsack will address the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) on Monday, Nov. 30, and will give remarks at the EU Agricultural Outlook Conference on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Secretary Vilsack will address climate change, sustainability, and TTIP at both events. The Secretary will also meet with Phil Hogan, EU Commissioner of Agriculture and the Presidents of COPA-COGECA, the EU union of farmers, cooperatives and agricultural organizations.
On July 12, 2013, the United States and the European Union began the first round of negotiations in pursuit of a comprehensive, transatlantic free trade agreement. The EU is the world’s largest importer of agricultural products and food, but despite continued market growth, the U.S. market share is shrinking. The ability for U.S. exporters to penetrate the European market remains constrained by tariff and non-tariff trade barriers, and ongoing TTIP negotiations offer opportunities to address these unjustified barriers.
“At USDA we intend to build on the record agricultural trade already achieved in the Obama Administration. We will continue breaking down barriers to U.S. products and working toward new agreements to expand exports, including a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the European Union,” said Vilsack. On Dec. 2, Secretary Vilsack will be in Paris, France for the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21), where he will host an event on the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture. Launched in Sept. 2014, the Global Alliance helps to promote international engagement around agricultural industries and their role in reducing the impacts of climate change. This alliance offers opportunities for international leaders to share knowledge, make investments, and develop policies that empower all producers to adapt to climate change and to mitigate greenhouse gases in agriculture while increasing sustainable production.
Later that day, Secretary Vilsack will host an event to release a new report global food security and the U.S. food system at the COP21. Following the event he will also meet with French Minister of Agriculture Stephane Le Foll.
On April 23rd, 2015, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled a plan to help farmers, ranchers, and forest land owners respond to climate change. The framework consists of ten "building blocks" that span a range of technologies and practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon storage, and generate clean renewable energy.
For questions, please email joanne.peters@xxxxxxxxxxx.
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