Two U.S. meat groups have had remarkably different reactions to the agreement for Russia to join the World Trade Organization. Read More...

The United States, China and the European Union appear to be vying for popularity with the West African cotton producing countries by offering new forms of assistance and attention in the absence of a World Trade Organization Doha round agreement that would reduce cotton subsidies around the world. Read More...

GENEVA — World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy’s plan to assemble a panel of stakeholders to examine “the real drivers” of trade and obstacles to it won an endorsement from a key group that represents major international agribusinesses, but the statement also reveals a list of issues that member countries may find difficult to agree on. Read More...

GENEVA — World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy announced tonight that he will not seek re-election when his current term expires on Sept. 1, 2013. Read More...

GENEVA — Member countries of the World Trade Organization accepted Russia as the WTO’s latest member today, but the immediate impact on U.S. agricultural exports to Russia is uncertain. Read More...

A bipartisan coalition of 19 senators led by Sens. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., and Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., today called on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to appeal a World Trade Organization decision that was critical of the U.S. country-of-origin food labeling program. Read More...

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said at the opening plenary session of the World Trade Organization ministers’ meeting in Geneva today that member countries should “celebrate” the organization’s long-term significance, but also understand that the Doha round is not working because growing developing countries are not acknowledging their responsibilities. Read More...

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said today that the farm bill proposal prepared for the failed supercommittee on deficit reduction fit within the budget allocated for it and will provide the basis for starting consideration of the farm bill next year, but that she does not plan to release a detailed copy of the bill. Read More...

As the world’s trade ministers prepare to gather in Geneva Dec. 15 to 17 for a trade ministerial meeting, WTO leaders have issued what they call “guidance” to the ministers. Read More...

China remains “among the least transparent and predictable” of the world’s agriculture markets, a key U.S. trade official said last week in making remarks in Geneva at the tenth and final review of China’s transition to WTO membership. Read More...

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said today that the United States may appeal a World Trade Organization ruling finding fault with its country-of-origin labeling program for red meat. Read More...

Coalitions of northern and southern growers issued competing statements today on the structure of new programs that farm leaders on Capitol Hill are considering, while a key Agriculture Department official said that the demise of direct payments and the creation of new commodity programs may mean that the United States will have to notify the World Trade Organization that more of its farm programs should be classified in the amber box of trade-distorting payments. Read More...

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., ranking member Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., and ranking member Sander Levin, D-Mich, are all urging U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to insist that Russia meet a high standard and ensure a level playing field for U.S. businesses and workers, including meat producers, in the negotiations for Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization. Read More...

John Adank, the New Zealand ambassador to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, has been appointed chairman of the WTO committee in charge of agricultural negotiations in the Doha round, the WTO has announced. Read More...

The European Union and Russia have reached agreement for the European Union to support Russia’s application to join the World Trade Organization, the EU announced today. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said he believes the United States and Russia will also be able to resolve their differences over a number of issues, including agriculture. Read More...

The Senate late Thursday confirmed three key presidential nominees who have roles in agriculture. Read More...

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., will hold a markup session Tuesday on the pending free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama, and to vote on four nominations President Barack Obama has made for positions that require Senate confirmation. Read More...

At the World Trade Organization headquarters in Geneva today, China underwent the eighth and final review of the agricultural trade policy required under its 2001 membership agreement to join the organization, a source close to the WTO has told The Hagstrom Report. Read More...

The United States has filed a case in the World Trade Organization over China’s threat to impose duties on imports of American chicken parts, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said today at a news conference. Read More...

A key U.S. trade official said Tuesday that the U.S. government has lost faith in the idea that a smaller Doha round package known as an “early harvest” can be developed before a meeting of trade ministers in Geneva in December, and that the World Trade Organization should give member countries time to work on other issues that the ministers may wish to address at that time. Read More...

U.S. Ambassador to the World Trade Organization Michael Punke vigorously defended the U.S. role in the Doha round of trade talks today, in an apparent reaction to World Bank President Robert Zoellick’s comments at a meeting in Geneva on Monday. Read More...

PARIS — In an attempt to reduce global food price volatility, the agriculture ministers from the G20 countries, including the United States, agreed today to launch a new wheat research initiative, convinced China and India to participate in a new food market supply and demand system, and released a proposal for a pilot project on humanitarian food reserves. But the group did not take a position opposing biofuels subsidies. Read More...

A World Trade Organization official confirmed today the departure of David Walker, the New Zealand ambassador who has been serving as chairman of the agriculture negotiating committee in the Doha round, and said that the WTO is looking for a new agriculture chairman. Read More...