Our Tennessee members of Congress have had a difficult time debating this issue, and we appreciate the leadership they and the administration have shown seeking markets for our Tennessee farm products. Congressmen Ford, Tanner, Bryant, Hilleary, and Jenkins deserve our grateful thanks for voting for permanent normal trade relations to China. They have shown a real concern for Tennessee's agricultural communities across this state. This was a strong bipartisan effort and I'm pleased that common sense, rather than politics, won out. Tennessee agriculture could see a major impact from the PNTR passage.
China is already the second leading export market for Tennessee poultry.
Soybeans, tobacco and cotton are also major Tennessee agricultural commodities that will benefit from the PNTR legislation's recent passage. Last year was tough and this year is not looking real good.