NAEGA has updated the Member Representatives Directory to include the addition of our newest member, Tradiverse Corporation. NAEGA asks all members to review the directory and let us know of any changes that you have. The new directory can be found here and on the NAEGA website under the Member Representatives Directory page.
On Wednesday, November 23, Ryan and Virginia participated in a virtual meeting with the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and industry stakeholders regarding Kuwait’s recent decision to adopt the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Guide for Imported Food Safety. A copy of the GCC guide can be found here. During the call, FAS representatives provided an update on Kuwait’s recent decision to implement the GCC Guide. Implementation of the guide has currently been delayed by Kuwaiti authorities until April 1, 2017 as the government considers the affects that the new rules will have on importers. Over the next few months, as Kuwaiti officials prepare for implementation, USDA FAS will be reaching out to Kuwaiti officials to ensure that U.S. health certificates for products such as poultry and dairy will be accepted at import. The top priority of FAS is to ensure that FAS mutual acceptance of all U.S. health certificates.
For information on this issue will be available in the coming months as the implementation date near. For more information please contact Gary or Ryan.
U.S. and Chinese officials concluded talks of their 27th Session of U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) last week. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. Ambassador to China Max Baucus led the U.S. delegation in discussions with the Chinese Vice Premier. Discussions included a range of commercial and trade issues, with agreements being reached by U.S. and Chinese officials on intellectual property, pharmaceutical and medical devices, and information security policies. Press reports of this final JCCT with the Obama administration indicated that efforts related to crop biotechnology regulations failed. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Ambassador Michael Froman both issued statements over the holiday weekend expressing disappointment over the lack of progress in the talks.
For more information on the U.S.-China JCCT, please click here.
The Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) has finalized the 2016-17 Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation Work Plan. Each work plan consists of a timeline with specific deliverables over the next two years. These plans are the result of collaboration between stakeholders and regulators with the goal of facilitating closer regulatory cooperation between the two countries. This document serves to enhance economic competitiveness by harmonizing regulations while protecting environmental, safety, and health standards in both countries.
A copy of the work plan is available here.
North American Export Grain Association
1400 Crystal Drive, Suite 260
Arlington, VA 22202
Telephone: 202-682-4030
Fax: 202-682-4033
Email: info@naega.org
