The Agricultural Coalition for U.S.-Peru Trade sent a letter to every member of Congress urging them to support the Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA). The letter said, "The PTPA sets a new and higher standard for future trade pacts. More than two-thirds of current U.S. agricultural exports to Peru will immediately receive duty-free treatment upon entry into force of the agreement. The tariffs on remaining U.S. agricultural products will be reduced over time, with all tariffs eliminated within 17 years." At the present time, approximately 1.5% of U.S. agricultural exports to Peru have duty-free access.

The letter also stated, that without implementation of the PTPA, "U.S. agriculture will continue to be prejudiced by this non-reciprocal trade and will be forced to compete for business in Peru against countries that already have free trade agreements with the South American nation."

The coalition is comprised of 58 organizations including: American Farm Bureau Federation, American Meat Institute, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Chicken Council, National Corn Growers Association, National Milk Producers Federation, National Pork Producers Council, National Turkey Federation, and U.S. Apple Association. -- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C., correspondent