Smithfield Foods Applauds Iowa Senators on TPA Passage

SMITHFIELD, Va., May 22,2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smithfield Foods applauds the U.S. Senate and Senators Grassley and Ernst on voting to pass the Bipartisan Trade Priorities and Accountability Act, bipartisan legislation to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). This important legislation will create opportunities to expand trade, increase U.S. pork exports and grow jobs in Iowa.

"TPA allows U.S. trade negotiators to get the best trade deal possible for our food producers," said Larry Pope, President and CEO of Smithfield Foods. "This is especially important as the U.S. negotiates the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The TPP alone would generate more than 10,000 U.S. jobs in the pork industry and 110,000 total U.S. jobs."

Trade is critical to the U.S. agriculture industry, and these deals have incredible potential to open the market to U.S. pork products in key countries, such as Japan, Mexico and Vietnam.

"Passing TPA will create extraordinary opportunity for our company, our employees, and for farmers and manufacturers throughout the state," Pope added. "We strongly  ncourage the House and the President to act swiftly to realize the tremendous potential of the TPP and TTIP."

About Smithfield Foods

Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield(R), Eckrich(R), Farmland(R), Armour(R), Cook's(R), John Morrell(R), Gwaltney(R), Nathan's Famous(R), Kretschmar(R), Margherita(R), Curly's(R), Carando(R) and Healthy Ones(R). Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit  www.smithfieldfoods.com and www.smithfieldcommitments.com.