US TRADE REP CALLS FOR INPUT ON BARRIERS FOR AMERICAN EXPORTERS’ ACCESS TO MARKETS
News Date September 29, 2009
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) last week kicked off its initiative to better detect and address standards-related measures that impede U.S. producers' ability to access foreign markets, and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures restricting U.S. agricultural exports and is seeking public comments on the most significant barriers faced by U.S. agricultural producers and other exporters. Standards-related measures can be applied to agricultural products, such as food nutrition labeling schemes and food quality or identity requirements while SPS measures can include specific product or processing standards, requirements for products to be produced in disease-free areas, quarantine regulations, certification or inspection procedures, sampling and testing requirements, health-related labeling measures, maximum permissible pesticide residue levels, and prohibitions on certain food additives. More information can be found on the USTR website. (Contact: Amy Mann)