John Block Reports from Washington

Hello everybody out there in farm country.

Last week, I was proud to announce Wal-Mart Stores as one of my sponsors. Well, this week, I'm equally as proud to announce that the Renewable Fuels Association has joined the team to sponsor the John Block Report. The Renewable Fuels Association, headed by Bob Dinneen, is fighting to protect the interests of the renewable fuels industry and farmers that supply the raw materials.

And now, for today's commentary.

All former U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture -- both parties -- Mike Espy, Dan Glickman, Clayton Yeutter, Jack Knebel, Mike Johanns, and myself -- we all support trade promotion agreements.

We sent a joint letter to Congress asking them to pass the Colombian Trade Agreement. American agriculture is expected to export a record 100 billion dollars worth of product this ycar. Thirty percent of our farm and ranch production is exported. The trade agreements we already have in place are one important reason for our success.

Colombia is already a major market for U.S. ag exports with sales of more than $1 billion. We've achieved this level of exports to Colombia even though virtually evcry ag product we sell to them is assessed an import duty between 5 and 20 percent. Our exports would jump from $1 billion to $2 billion if we could get rid of t hose duties. With the trade agreement, we receive immediate duty-free treatment on more than half our total exports and the rest will be gradually phased down to zero. Colombia's exports to us are already duty free, so let's level the playing field.

Passing the agreement will not only sell more product, it will demonstrate that we can work with our friends. Colombia is our friend. Contrast that with Venezuela where Hugo Chavez is always shooting his mouth offagainst the U.S.

Also, we need to ignore the populist protectionist rhetoric coming out of the Democratic campaign. I can't believe they' re serious in their criticism of our trade agreements.

I think they've been listening to Lou Dobbs too much. It's time to get rid of the politics of protectionism and pass the Colombia Trade Agreement.

Until next week, I am John Block from Washington.