The Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee approved the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA). This is the first step in Congressional approval of the agreement.

Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner and the Ag Coalition for U.S.-Peru Trade held a press conference this week announcing ag's support for the agreement and urged Congress to approve the PTPA. Speaking on behalf of ag were American Farm Bureau Federation, Corn Refiners Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Milk Producers Federation, and the National Pork Producers Council.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent