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U.S. Questioned on Implementation of WTO Ag Commitments

World Trade Organization members met last week to focus on monitoring how WTO members are implementing their present commitments in agriculture. A long list of questions was posed to the United States. They covered: counter-cyclical payments, direct payments, and the new Farm Bill's "Average Crop Revenue Election" program.

There is also an issue with China's exports of poultry being held up by U.S. law. The United States has repeated its statement that the government is talking to relevant authorities in Washington to try to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

Other questions deal with details of support for dairy and sugar products, food aid, crop insurance, support for bio-energy, crop disaster payments, and a range of support programs. Some key questions are likely to continue to pile up until the Obama Administration has someone setting in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The Senate is slated to vote on nominee Ron Kirk this week.