(Dave Bedard photo)

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

Australian trade minister sees TPP deal just weeks away

Sydney | Reuters –– Australian Trade Minister Andrew Robb said an ambitious Pacific trade pact could be reached within weeks after years of contentious negotiations. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement includes 12 countries covering 40 per cent of the world economy, among them the U.S., Canada, Australia and Japan. Last month, U.S. Trade Representative […] 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