The Bush Administration has signaled its desire to slash long-standing agricultural subsidies as part of the next WTO pact. U.S. Trade representative Robert Portman is suggesting cuts of up to 60% in U.S. subsidies to producers, which drew enthusiastic support from dairy manufacturers' representatives.
"USTR's aggressive proposal is exactly what is needed to get the crucial WTO negotiations back on track," said Clay Hough, sr. v.p. and gen. counsel of the IDFA. "This should prompt real movement during December's Hong Kong WTO Ministerial."