The American Feed Industry Association has sent a letter to the House of Representatives, urging members to vote \"yes\" for Trade Promotion Authority, arguing that \"TPA is key to successfully negotiating trade agreements vital to the growth of the US animal food industry.\"

AFIA, which represents 75 percent of the commercial animal food produced in the US, noted that last year alone the US exported more than $10 billion worth of animal feeds, animal food ingredients and pet food.

AFIA believes that passage of TPA will send a clear message to its trade partners that US representatives have unambiguous authority to negotiate new trade agreements down the line and give the feed industry better access to growing global demands.

The letter pointed out that a lack of TPA for this administration will likely scuttle other pending trade agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the TransAtlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. If these agreements collapse, the US will lose new export market opportunities for agricultural products.

\"We need trading rules developed on sound science; rules that create an equal, level playing field. Passage of TPA can provide that,\" said said Gina Tumbarello, AFIA director of international policy and trade.