The chief U.S. agricultural trade negotiator said there was “a lot of momentum” toward a Trans-Pacific Partnership pact after months of delays. The chief negotiators from the 12 TPP nations are in Washington this week, said Darci Vetter, of the U.S. Trade Representative’s office. “We hope and think we will be closing this agreement soon.” Vetter told the Farm Journal Forum that only the most sensitive products were left on the table, items that may need ministerial action. A key U.S. goal is further opening of Japanese markets to U.S. agricultural products.
“The good news is TPP negotiations are in the end game,” said Nick Giordano of the National Pork Producers Council. He said the agricultural negotiations were difficult. Parliamentary elections on Sunday should strengthen Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s position and lead to freer farm trade, he said. Japan has been reluctant to act on five “sacred” food categories, rice, wheat, dairy, sugar and beef and pork.
President Barack Obama, speaking at a meeting of the President’s Export Council, said, “I think the odds of us being able to get a strong agreement are higher than 50-50,” according to Reuters. A TPP pact would cover 40 percent of the world economy.