With great pride and excitement, I am very pleased to announce that AFI’s President, Bob Bauer, has today been formally appointed to the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Processed Foods. This is a wonderful achievement for Mr. Bauer, and a major step forward in the Association’s ambition to elevate its voice in Washington on behalf of this group and the interests of U.S. food importers.
The advisory committee system, created by Congress in 1974, provides information and advice to Administration officials on U.S. negotiating objectives and bargaining positions before entering into trade agreements and on other matters arising in connection with the development, implementation and administration of U.S. trade policy. The ATAC for Processed Foods was created in May 2003 and is the newest member to the advisory committee roster. Mr. Bauer’s appointment is a significant milestone since it represents the first time that a representative of a U.S. importing entity has gained membership on an advisory committee. As we have declared since the inception of the Trade Agreements Action Program:
AFI believes that it is vital for policymakers and the public to be aware that the U.S. food importing industry is composed of American companies, much like the companies in other so-called "domestic industries," whether they are textile fabricators, sugar processors or growers of citrus fruits. Its workers are employed here in the United States, and it makes a vital contribution to the tax base of our national, state and local economies.
Indeed, Mr. Bauer’s appointment provides the proverbial “seat at the table” for AFI in discussions on national trade policy.
