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Thursday, August 5, 2021

USTR Tai Meeting with Western Farmers

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai meets today (Thursday) with farmers and ranchers in the Pacific Northwest. Tai and U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene, a Washington state Democrat, will tour the Washington State University Breadlab and participate in a roundtable with agriculture and farm stakeholders. The USTR office says the roundtable in Burlington, Washington, will discuss how trade can help Washington’s agriculture and farm industries. A second roundtable planned later in the day in Seattle will focus on a worker-centered trade policy. Tai visited with farmers in Wisconsin last month. The Biden administration has yet to name a Chief Agriculture Negotiator, and Tai has largely discussed ag issues with trading partners herself. Lawmakers asked for a nomination during a congressional hearing last week, and earlier in July, sent a letter to President Joe Biden. The lawmakers wrote, "A Chief Agricultural Negotiator would help expand our agricultural trade and enhance the agricultural economy of our country."