U.S. and Japanese officials are to discuss agriculture market access issues this week in Tokyo. Market access has become a major obstacle to a Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement involving a dozen nations including Australia and New Zealand. Japan wants to exempt the “sacred five” ag categories – rice, wheat and barley, sugar, dairy, and beef and pork – from market openings. U.S. farm groups insist the market must be opened. Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler is to meet Ambassador Hiroshi Oe on the issue, says USTR.
Meanwhile, 10 nations, including some involved in the TPP talks, say a U.S. catfish inspection program is actually a trade barrier, says the New York Times, adding, “their objections could hamper Obama administration efforts to reach a major Pacific trade agreement by the end of next year.” The 2008 farm law put the Agriculture Department in charge of catfish inspection; seafood safety is usually handled by FDA or other agencies. Malaysia and Vietnam, a major catfish exporter, are among the protesters of the new inspection system and are part of TPP negotiations.