Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Wendy Cutler will meet on Jan. 13 with South Korean Deputy Trade Minister Choi Kyong-lim to discuss potential South Korean accession to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, USTR said in its weekly schedule. The two officials also plan to raise aspects of U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) yet to be implemented, USTR added.

Nearly 100 agricultural organizations expressed support for the pending nomination of Darci Vetter as Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in a joint Jan. 10 letter submitted individually to all members of the Senate Finance Committee. “Deputy Under Secretary Vetter brings a wealth of well-rounded background expertise,” said the letter. “Her most recent experience within the U.S. Department of Agriculture has also given her direct exposure to the workings of many of the critical programs related to trade currently offered by the federal government as well as the numerous trade associations involved in helping to stimulate agricultural trade.” President Barack Obama sent Vetter’s nomination to the Senate on Jan. 7 (see 14010811).

The Obama Administration is continuing to work with Congress to secure broad bipartisan support for Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), said U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman during a Jan. 6 interview with Bloomberg TV. The legislation is an essential mechanism to close pending trade pacts and empower Congress to outline trade objectives, said Froman. Froman described Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations as in the “final stages,” while U.S. and European Union officials are “well underway” with Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks.

Chinese regulatory authorities continued to target beef, poultry, pork products and other agricultural commodities in 2013, preventing anticipated U.S. export growth for such products, said the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in an annual report on Chinese World Trade Organization (WTO) compliance presented to Congress. USTR released the report on Dec. 24. Chinese authorities continue to block imports of U.S. beef and beef products more than six years after these products were declared to be safe for trade under criteria established by the World Organization for Animal Health, said USTR.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is seeking comments on foreign nations that deny “adequate and effective” intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and “fair and equitable” market access for U.S. companies and individuals that rely on IPR. USTR is requesting comment on whether particular trading partners should be identified as Priority Foreign Countries or placed on the Priority Watch List or Watch List. USTR outlined the following comment submission schedule:

Janis Lazda, deputy chief of staff for U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman, will step down and depart USTR on Dec. 20, said a USTR spokeswoman. The spokeswoman declined to comment further on potential successors. Matt Vogel currently serves as Froman's chief of staff. Lazda is reportedly leaving for a job at Target. Target did not respond for comment.

Chinese officials committed to adopt an action plan on trade secrets and enforcement that includes greater transparency and more stringent compliance with trade secret measures during the 24th U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) in Beijing, China on Dec 19-20 , said the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on Dec. 20. The Chinese National Leading Group on Combating IPR Infringement and the Manufacture and Sales of Counterfeit and Substandard Goods pledged the commitment as part of a 2014 Action Plan, said USTR in a statement. Moreover, “the United States and China reaffirm their commitment to foster a better IP protection environment by combating IPR infringement and counterfeit goods, with the result of facilitating the sales of legitimate IP-intensive goods and services,” said USTR. “The United States and China recognize the importance of this issue and will conduct further discussions in 2014, including exchanges of relevant information, on detailed approaches towards this goal.” The two sides also agreed to strive to resume U.S. beef exports to China by July 2014, said USTR.

The U.S. and Libya signed on Dec. 18 a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement that will provide a forum to address trade issues and eliminate barriers to trade, said the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in a press release. The agreement will address market access and intellectual property rights, among other issues, said USTR. USTR did not respond for comment on the specifics of the deal.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued a notice of determination for procurement thresholds in U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs) and trade promotion agreements (TPAs). The thresholds are as follows for calendar years 2014 and 2015, effective Jan. 1, 2014:

The 2013 U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) will focus on intellectual property right enforcement, market access for goods and services and bilateral trade barrier elimination, said U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman in a press release. Froman will travel to Beijing, China on Dec. 19-20 to participate in the summit, the release said, along with Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “America’s farmers and ranchers are extremely productive and they are ready to build on five years of record U.S. agricultural exports,” said Vilsack. “The JCCT provides a meaningful and important venue to work with our Chinese counterparts on critical trade matters that will help open even more markets for U.S. exports, in line with President Obama’s commitment to increase U.S. exports under the National Export Initiative.” U.S. goods exports to China topped $110 billion in 2012, said the release.