Articles Tagged with ''USTR''

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., is blocking the speedy movement of Doug McKalip’s nomination to be the chief agricultural negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, a position U.S. farm groups and farm states have been eager to see filled as quickly as possible.

Bipartisan agreement on the need for the U.S. and Taiwan to strengthen ties through a trade pact was on display Wednesday at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing, although Republican lawmakers were mostly critical of the Biden administration’s decision not to negotiate a traditional free trade agreement that requires approval from Congress.

The Biden administration is taking a major step today in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.

India, an international ag trading powerhouse that often comes into friction with the U.S. over tariff and nontariff barriers, is the only Indo-Pacific Economic Framework country out of 14 not participating in the pact’s trade pillar after a major summit held in Los Angeles this week, according to government officials.

The Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved USDA adviser Doug McKalip to be the chief agricultural negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, sending the nomination to the full Senate for final approval.

The Senate’s back in action this week as lawmakers prepare to clear a to-do list in time to get home to campaign ahead of the mid-term elections.

The Senate Finance Committee plans to vote Sept. 7 on whether to send the nomination of USDA adviser Doug McKalip for chief agricultural trade negotiator to the full Senate for confirmation.

U.S. meat and dairy exporters have a lot to gain if Taiwan were to remove barriers to their products. That’s why groups representing both sectors are lauding a U.S. announcement that the two countries have reached an agreement on a broad set of goals for a trade pact that they’re planning to begin negotiations on this fall.

President Joe Biden’s choice to be the next chief agricultural trade negotiator spent much of his nomination hearing arguing that he and the U.S. trade representative will be able to increase foreign market access for U.S. farm goods without negotiating new free trade agreements, but Republican senators weren't buying it.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced Thursday that the U.S. and Kenya will begin developing closer ties under a deal that would improve agricultural trade by addressing non-tariff trade barriers.