The produce industry is celebrating the passage of trade legislation that will support the growing globalization of fruits and vegetables.

By a vote of 60 to 38, the U.S. Senate passed Trade Promotion Authority, which will allow the president to send a completed trade agreement to Congress for an up-or-down vote and no amendments.

Since President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s, every president has had authority from Congress to negotiate trade agreements that open up new market opportunities for the United States. Congress last enacted TPA legislation in 2002, and it lapsed in 2007.

“United Fresh applauds the Senate for renewing Trade Promotion Authorization,” said Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy for United Fresh. “Trade deals that break down market access barriers and create new economic opportunities benefit the industry at home and abroad, expanding consumption of America’s abundant supply of fruits and vegetables in rapidly developing regions of the world. We look forward to the president signing this legislation and working with his administration to finalize the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement.”

“We’re pleased that a bipartisan Congress has shown strong resolve to pass TPA and to see this transformative bill through to the desk of President Obama,” Richard Owen, vice president of global business development for the Produce Marketing Association, said in a statement. “The buying and selling of fresh produce occurs in a global environment, and that’s becoming more evident each day. Our ability as an industry to compete in the international market is tied to the ability of the United States to eliminate barriers to facilitate free and fair trade. TPA provides a framework that builds confidence with our international partners and foreign governments that a deal negotiated will make it through the political process for approval.”

With TPA being sent to the president, the administration can now focus on finalizing trade negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, which the U.S. is looking to enter with 11 other Asia-Pacific countries. It would be the largest trade deal in history, opening markets and expanding access to U.S. agriculture exports to more than 800 million people.

“News of this Trade Promotion Authority passage is fantastic news for the port, for the region and for the state,” Paul Anderson, president and chief executive of the Port of Tampa, said in a statement. “Here in Florida, trade supports 2.4 million jobs, and TPA ensures that trade agreements will have the clearest opportunities to be successfully negotiated. The port firmly supports passage of this legislation, and we are extremely grateful to our leaders in Washington, the American Association of Port Authorities, and our fellow ports nationwide for their support. It’s important that we continue to recognize the value of our ports and the nexus of trade activity to our country, our economy and to our citizens. The positive impacts of TPA passage will be with us for generations.”