(NAFB.com) – Lawmakers in the House of Representative’s Wednesday launched a new Agricultural Trade Caucus. The effort seeks to advance and promote policies vital to U.S. agriculture, including boosting agricultural exports, facilitating food and agriculture trade, and knocking down unnecessary trade barriers. The caucus includes Republicans Adrain Smith of Nebraska, Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, and California Democrats Jim Costa and Jimmy Pennetta. In the announcement, Penetta says, “Congress needs to be more active in promoting trade agreements that will keep American producers competitive and empower them to feed the world.” The new caucus will work to solidify support for trade policies that benefit farmers, ranchers, producers, rural communities, and all those along our food and agricultural supply chains. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall responded, “AFBF appreciates House lawmakers for coming together in a bipartisan manner to form an agriculture trade caucus,” adding, “We have a real opportunity to showcase American agriculture on the global stage.”