Is that progress I see?

SINGAPORE -- Nearly all trade ministers of the 12 countries seeking to reach a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement met earlier this week.  Ministers are negotiating a broad free-trade agreement, but progress continues to be stalled pending agreement between the United States and Japan on market access issues for autos and light trucks - a key "offensive issue" for both countries - and agricultural products where the United States is on the offensive and Japan has a defensive, or protectionist, position.  As at previous TPP meetings, USA Rice was represented.  Michael Rue, a California producer and vice chairman of the USA Rice International Trade Policy committee, and COO Bob Cummings attended.  An agreement in the near term is unlikely given divergent positions of key TPP countries on range of market access issues.

USA Rice is seeking improvement in the quantity of U.S. rice available to Japan's market as well as significant improvement of our access so that consumers and end users, and not the Japanese government, decide the type and form of U.S. rice imported.  Rue and Cummings met with U.S. negotiators and congressional staff representatives to discuss rice market access. 

"The TPP negotiations are the best opportunity in a generation to gain significant and lasting improvements in access for U.S. rice," said Rue.  "We will continue to educate U.S. negotiators and Congress about the importance of an acceptable TPP agreement that delivers real benefits for U.S. rice producers and marketers." 

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman announced that TPP countries will meet again in July at the level of chief negotiators.  No date or location for this meeting was announced.

Contact:  Bob Cummings, (703) 236-1473

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