As we pointed out yesterday, expanding trade will help American farmers and ranchers thrive. Today, a bipartisan group of former U.S. Agriculture Secretaries echoed this message in an open letter to Congress: As former U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture, we know firsthand the importance of trade to America's farm and ranch families. Access to export markets is vital for increasing sales… Read more

America's farmers and ranchers will reap enormous benefits from expanding U.S. trade. Rural communities across the country rely heavily on the global economy for their livelihoods, but many of our agricultural exports are hitting trade barriers. That’s why passing trade promotion authority (TPA) is so important. It will help us reach high-standard trade agreements, which will tear… Read more

Farmers and ranchers are rallying behind the bipartisan effort to pass trade promotion authority. Foreign demand for U.S. agriculture products is rapidly increasing, but our exports are hitting trade barriers. Passage of TPA would ensure high-standard trade agreements tear down these barriers and increase export opportunities for U.S. agriculture workers. … Read more

February 19, 2015 — Members of the congressional delegation meet with Japanese Prime Minister Abe. Members of a congressional delegation led by Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) arrived in Tokyo Wednesday evening to round out a trip to three countries in Asia.   Japan is one of the United States’s top trading partners, and our alliance is central to American… Read more

​February 17, 2015 — Members of the congressional delegation meet with Malaysian officials. On the second leg of a three-nation trip to Asia, members of a congressional delegation led by Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday. Malaysia and the U.S. share a long history of cooperation, and the country has shown interest for even greater… Read more

While in Malaysia to discuss ongoing trade negotiations, members of a congressional delegation led by Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) held a meeting with Nurul Izzah, the daughter of Anwar Ibrahim, who was controversially imprisoned last week. Anwar, the Malaysian opposition leader, was jailed after a government appeal overturned an original ruling that found him not guilty.… Read more

February 16, 2015—Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan speaking with Singapore Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam. On Monday, a congressional delegation led by Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) held meetings in Singapore, the first of three Asian nations the group will visit on the week-long… Read more

February 16, 2015— Members of the congressional delegation meet with the crew of the U.S.S. Fort Worth, stationed in Singapore.         … Read more

WASHINGTON — This afternoon, a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives left Washington for a week-long visit to three Asian nations participating in ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. The eight-member delegation will meet with senior government officials and American and local business leaders in an effort to advance the U.S. trade agenda and strengthen… Read more

There is great unease today about currency manipulation abroad—and rightfully so. Some countries—particularly China—have distorted exchange rates to gain an advantage in the world market, hurting American exports by making their goods cheaper and ours more expensive. It’s a legitimate problem that deserves a real response. The United States holds the world’s reserve currency. We have… Read more