A coalition of 96 food and agriculture organizations signed a letter in support of the nomination of Mr. Doug McKalip as the Chief Agricultural Negotiator at USTR. The letter to the Senate Finance leadership requests the expeditious confirmation of Doug McKalip and outlines his extensive qualifications and experience to succeed in the position.  


July 7, 2022

TRANSMITTED ELECTRONICALLY 

The Honorable Ron Wyden, Chairman
The Honorable Mike Crapo, Ranking Member
U.S. Senate Committee on Finance
219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Crapo:

We, the undersigned food and agriculture organizations and companies, enthusiastically support the nomination of Doug McKalip as Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

Collectively we represent the vast majority of the food and agriculture sector, accounting for roughly one-fifth of the country’s economic activity and directly supporting over 21.5 million jobs – constituting 14 percent of total U.S. employment. 

Mr. McKalip possesses deep familiarity with the food and agriculture industry through three decades of leadership in critical roles in agriculture trade policy.

In addition to his current position as a trusted advisor to Secretary Vilsack, Mr. McKalip has served in numerous leadership positions in USDA and has represented American farmers, ranchers and agriculture around the world and advocated for U.S. agricultural products and technology. We believe he is keenly aware of the importance of trade to agriculture related jobs and its essential role in this Administration’s “worker first” trade agenda. Mr. McKalip is capable of addressing the critical need to open and maintain foreign market access and reduce barriers for U.S. food and agriculture workers and exporters for the benefit of consumers in the U.S. and across the globe.

We especially value Mr. McKalip’s deep institutional regulatory and trade experience, which equips him to have an immediate impact in the position. He is eminently qualified to be a successful Chief Agricultural Negotiator in addressing the most pressing food and agriculture trade policy issues before us. Mr. McKalip understands the critical need to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers in the Indo-Pacific region, the management of an expanding set of trade issues with Mexico, the enforcement of existing trade agreements and the imperative of tackling non-tariff barriers to trade around the world. We believe that Mr. McKalip has the experience and expertise to reduce foreign trade barriers, secure greater market access for U.S. products and ensure enforcement of clear and fair rules with our trade partners so U.S. food and agriculture workers and our industry sectors may fairly compete in the global economy.

We strongly urge the Senate Finance Committee to advance Doug McKalip’s nomination as soon as possible. Please feel free to call upon any of the undersigned entities to discuss our rationale for supporting the nomination of Doug McKalip.

Sincerely,

ADM

Agri Beef Co.

Agribusiness Association of Iowa

Agrinos Inc.

AgTrade Strategies LLC

Amcot

American Farm Bureau Federation

American Feed Industry Association

American Peanut Council

American Seed Trade Association

American Soybean Association

American Sugar Alliance

AMVAC Chemical Inc.

Animal Health Institute

Biotechnology Innovation Organization

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health

California Bean Shippers Association

California Citrus Mutual

California Walnut Commission

Cargill

Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports

CoBank

Colorado Dairy Farmers

Corn Refiners Association

CropLife America

Distilled Spirits Council of the United States

Douglas Products

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative

Farmers for Free Trade

FMI – the Food Industry Association

Fresh Produce Association of the Americas

Global Cold Chain Alliance

Growth Energy

Idaho Dairymen’s Association, Inc.

Infant Nutrition Council of America

International Dairy Foods Association

International Fresh Produce Association

KCoe Isom, LLP

Land O’Lakes, Inc.

Leather and Hide Council of America

Maine Potato Board

Meat Import Council of America

National All-Jersey Inc.

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

National Association of Wheat Growers

National Barley Growers Association

National Confectioners Association

National Corn Growers Association

National Cotton Council

National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

National Farmers Union

National Grain and Feed Association

National Milk Producers Federation

National Oilseed Processors Association

National Pork Producers Council

National Potato Council

National Sorghum Producers

National Turkey Federation

North American Export Grain Association

North American Meat Institute

North American Millers’ Association

North American Renderers Association

North Dakota Corn Growers Association

North Dakota Grain Growers Association

Northarvest Bean Growers Association

Northwest Horticultural Council

Ohio AgriBusiness Association

OHP Inc.

Oregon Dairy Farmers Association

Organic Produce Association

Organic Trade Association

Pacific Northwest Grain & Feed Association

Pet Food Institute

Potato Growers of Michigan, Inc

Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition

Smithfield Foods, Inc.

South East Dairy Farmers Association

Superior Farms

Sweetener Users Association

Syngenta

The Fertilizer Institute

U.S. Apple Association

U.S. Canola Association

U.S. Dairy Export Council

U.S. Durum Growers Association

U.S. Pea & Lentil Trade Association

U.S. Wheat Associates

USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council

USA Poultry & Egg Export Council

USA Rice

Washington State Potato Commission

Wine Institute

Wisconsin Agri-Business Association

Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association

World Perspectives, Inc.

Zoetis

CC:   Ambassador Katherine Tai
Secretary Tom Vilsack