U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk indicated pending trade agreements between the United States and other countries could include talks to reduce federal farm subsidies, according to May 8 article from Drover’s Cattle Network.
Representatives from nine countries, including the United States, are meeting in Dallas through May 16 to negotiate a 12th round of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.
Kirk noted in the article that negotiations may call for reduced farm subsidies to “rationalize and come to grips” with higher commodity prices and greater demand for agricultural exports.
The nine countries in the TPP agreement have expressed the intention to finalize negotiations by the end of the year. U.S. trade officials also are considering a future trade agreement with the European Union.