The 13th round of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) beings today in New York.

In preparation for the new round of talks U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, along with 26 other Senators, set a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative, Michael Forman, to ask for a strong framework for American agriculture in the agreement.

“America’s farmers and ranchers feed the world. Let them do so without senseless barriers and tariffs,” said Chairman Roberts. “U.S. agriculture’s market share in the European Union is shrinking, and we cannot let that continue to happen. If T-TIP is truly to be a comprehensive and ambitious free trade agreement, agriculture trade issues must be addressed before negotiations conclude.”

“American made and grown products are the best in the world,” Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said. “While it’s understandable that other countries may not want to compete against us, that does not mean they should be able to unfairly target our products. With a shrinking market in the EU for American agricultural products, it’s important that our trade negotiators take steps now to reverse this trend and address issues facing American farmers and ranchers.”

Those who sent the letter are: Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; Michael Bennet, D-Colo.; Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; John Boozman, R-Ark.; Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Richard Burr, R-N.C.; Bob Casey, D-Pa.; Thad Cochran, R-Miss.; John Cornyn, R-Texas; Joe Donnelly, D-Ind.; Mike Enzi, R-Wyo.; Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D.; John Hoeven, R-N.D.; Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.; Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; David Perdue, R-Ga.; Rob Portman, R-Ohio; Ben Sasse, R-Neb.; John Thune, R-S.D.; Thom Tillis, R-N.C.; and Mark Warner, D-Va.

You can read the letter in its entirety here.