Ottawa | Reuters –– Canada is facing a tough squeeze at talks on a major Pacific trade treaty because the concessions other nations want it to make could cause serious problems for the governing Conservatives in this October’s general election. Canada, one of 12 nations aiming to create the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), is under pressure […] Read more
Election timing puts Tories in bind on Pacific trade talks
Canada risks being sidelined in TPP trade deal, Vilsack says
Istanbul | Reuters — Canada risks getting left behind in a 12-nation Pacific trade deal because it has been reluctant to negotiate opening its markets, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Thursday. Vilsack also told Reuters that longstanding disagreements with Japan over rice exports would not threaten the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and that the U.S. […] Read more
Trans-Pacific ministers’ meeting set for May 26-28
Mexico City | Reuters –– A ministerial meeting aimed at working toward a deal for the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact has been set for May 26-28, the head of Chile’s trade body said on Thursday. “The meeting is agreed, from the 26th to the 28th of May,” said Andres Rebolledo, head of the […] Read more
Fast-track avoids ‘mistakes from our past’ on trade: Obama
Washington | Reuters –– U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday praised a bipartisan bill that would fast-track trade deals through Congress, urging lawmakers to pass it quickly so his administration can advance a trade pact with Pacific nations. “The bill put forward today would help us write those rules in a way that avoids the […] Read more
U.S. hopes to wrap up Pacific trade deal, fast-track soon
Washington | Reuters –– U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said on Thursday a Pacific trade agreement can be wrapped up in months and urged lawmakers to quickly move ahead with key trade legislation. Froman said although there was no firm deadline to conclude the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, “we do feel that we can close this […] Read more
Pacific trade pact negotiators to meet in March
Washington | Reuters –– Chief negotiators for a Pacific trade deal will meet in Hawaii for talks in the second week of March, the U.S. trade office said Friday, a move which could delay a final agreement on the pact. Australian Trade Minister Andrew Robb said on Feb. 5 he hoped to agree on the […] Read more
U.S. lawmaker says Canada, Japan must cut farm tariffs
Washington | Reuters — Canada and Japan must open their markets to farm imports under a Pacific trade pact, the chairman of a congressional committee responsible for trade said on Thursday, adding that any country that cannot meet the deal’s ambitious goals should drop out. In prepared remarks, House ways and means committee chairman Paul […] Read more
Japan seen set to cut beef, pork tariffs in TPP talks
Tokyo | Reuters — Japan is prepared to cut its high import tariffs on beef and pork and slightly ease tight restrictions on rice imports for U.S. producers, in a rush to seal an ambitious Pacific trade deal, Japanese media said Friday. Tokyo’s reported concessions come as talks accelerate with Washington to strike a bilateral […] Read more
U.S. hog farmers see ‘significant progress’ in Trans-Pacific talks
Washington | Reuters –– U.S. pork producers on Monday hailed “significant progress” in Asia-Pacific regional trade talks and urged lawmakers to give the White House authority to fast-track trade deals, a sign that a deadlock with Japan may be softening. An impasse between the U.S. and Japan, the two biggest economies in the 12-nation Trans-Pacific […] Read more
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