[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Trans-Pacific Partnership talks in Hawaii made “substantial progress” on rules related to trade in agriculture, US Trade Rep says[/title][fusion_text]Wednesday, September 9th 2015
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative says negotiators at the recent Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks in Hawaii made “substantial progress” on rules related to trade in agriculture and other issues, bringing the “high-standard trade agreement” one step closer to completion. In an update on the negotiations, USTR said progress was made toward eliminating tariffs, which in some TPP countries exceed 70 percent for some agricultural exports, while at the same time addressing U.S. import sensitivities. No mention was made of U.S. efforts to persuade Canada to open its dairy markets to more competition, or to get Japan to ease import levies on its “sacred” agricultural products including, rice, wheat, beef and pork. The release was also silent on Australia’s campaign to export more sugar to the U.S. Each of these issues has been mentioned as a roadblock to a TPP agreement. USTR also cited progress toward eliminating non-tariff barriers to U.S. exports, including permit and licensing barriers on agricultural and other products, as well as “unjustified trade restrictions that affect new U.S. technologies, including biotechnology. In addition, the office said strides were made toward reaffirming World Trade Organization commitments on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and avoiding any SPS restrictions that are not based on science. Negotiators from the countries involved in the talks are now formalizing the progress made in Hawaii and looking for “common ground” toward concluding negotiations, USTR said. The talks have now been going on for five years.
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