U.S. Trade Representative Chief Agricultural Negotiator Darci Vetter updated farmer leaders and the media on trade issues at the 2015 Commodity Classic last week, particularly on the need for Trade Promotion Authority to move current negotiations forward.

“There are groups on the right and on the left that would say that Trade Promotion Authority is not the way to go,” she said, but it is critical to negotiating both the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

“While I can’t tell you everything that’s on the table I know there’s a really good deal for agriculture in TPP, a huge opportunity for agriculture in TTIP,” said Vetter. “But unless (TPA) is in place, I can’t get it across the finish line.”

Vetter noted that exports to Europe have been declining and a trade agreement under TTIP would be beneficial in working out mutual regulatory and approval processes for biotechnology traits. And TPP she says needs to move forward because other countries are in the process of making bilateral agreements with Japan.

Listen to Vetter’s comments here, thanks to Meghan Greber with Brownfield Ag News who supplied us with the audio and photos. Darci Vetter, USTR Ag Negotiator

2015 Commodity Classic Photo Album