Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the US Trade Representative Darci Vetter made an informal appearance at the American Farm Bureau annual meeting in San Diego Sunday and stopped to answer a few trade related questions from the media.
First, Ambassador Vetter was asked about the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations and Japan’s desire to exempt a variety of agricultural products from the agreement. “We continue to work very hard with both with our Japanese partners and others to find a way forward that will bring real value to U.S. ag,” she said.
Vetter says she is hopeful that Congress will get trade promotion authority approved this year. “We’re very encouraged by statements made by both the new House and Senate leadership about moving TPA forward,” said Vetter.
She talked about what the next steps have to be for more normalized trade with Cuba. “Certain restrictions on the financing of products from Cuba have been lifted to make it easier for us to do business with them, but Congress of course has to fully lift the embargo to move forward.”
She also commented on moving U.S. beef into China and dealing with approval of biotech traits.
Listen to it here: Media gaggle with USTR Darci Vetter