Philip Brasher

The political environment for new trade agreements could hardly get more toxic. The frontrunners for the Republican and Democratic presidential nominations have been doubling down on their criticism of U.S. trade policy. The big question is whether the campaign rhetoric will make i

A broad coalition of 254 agriculture interests, conservation groups and nutrition advocates is appealing to Congress not to make any cuts in farm bill spending this year.

Both sides of the biotech labeling debate are gearing up for a final showdown on the Senate floor that could arrive as soon as this week.

Donald Trump signaled some flexibility on the immigration issue during the latest Republican presidential debate, going so far as saying it was acceptable for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to have negotiated on the 2013 reform bill.

President Obama has nominated a law professor with expertise in regulating financial markets to fill one of one of two vacancies on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

The prospects for legislation to block Vermonts GMO labeling law have brightened considerably with the Senate Agriculture Committees bipartisan 14-6 vote to approve a bill.

The Senate Agriculture Committee approved a bill to preempt state GMO labeling laws, and there were signs there may eventually be enough Democratic support to get a version of the legislation enacted. Three Democrats on the committee voted to support the bill, and three others, led

Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts will try again this week to get an agreement with Dem-ocrats on legislation to head off state GMO labeling laws.

When Congress debated the 2014 farm bill, an unusual alliance between farm groups, the insurance industry and conservation organizations was key to fighting off attempts to cut the insurance program. But there are signs that alliance might be fraying even before lawmakers start work on

The clock is ticking this week for senators to reach agreement on a biotech labeling bill that can win enough Democratic support to reach President Obama's desk.