Ag News: USTR Urged to Push TPP Return
**Some agricultural groups would like U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to reconsider some previous trade deals, including the Trans Pacific Partnership.
According to www.agweb.com, the new Comprehensive and Progress Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership was formed after the U.S. withdrew from TPP talks during the Trump administration.
The trade pact now includes 11 countries, including Australia, Canada, Mexico and Japan.
The Trump Administration abandoned the TPP in favor of a one-on-one approach.
**The Canadian Produce Marketing Association held its 95th Convention and Trade Show, Fresh Week, the largest fresh produce event in Canada, April 12-16, attracting almost 2,900 attendees from 42 countries, even as a virtual event.
www.thepacker.com reports, this year’s event touted the “Industry Connections, Reimagined” theme.
Besides networking, business development and educational opportunities, the program featured industry leaders who shared their challenges navigating through the pandemic and strategies they adopted to sustain and thrive their businesses.
www.thepacker.com/news/industry/cpma-concludes-its-first-virtual-trade-show
**Despite COVID-related challenges, U.S. pork exports to Central America set a new record in 2020 and are off to a terrific start this year.
Through February, exports volume to the region increased 46% from a year ago to nearly 22,000 metric tons, and was valued at more than $53 million, up 38%.
February exports were record-large to Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica, while exports to Honduras were the fourth highest ever.