U.S., MEXICAN OFFICIALS DISCUSS TRADE ISSUES IN CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

The United States and Mexico today held the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Mexico Consultative Committee on Agriculture (CCA), following renewal of the bilateral forum by the two governments in March 2007. Mark E. Keenum, Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Ambassador Richard T. Crowder, Chief Agricultural Trade Negotiator of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, led the U.S. delegation. Under Secretary Beatriz Leycegui of the Ministry of the Economy (Economia) and Under Secretary Francisco Lopez Tostado of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries, and Food Supply (SAGARPA) led the delegation from Mexico. "The United States and Mexico held constructive, wide-ranging discussions today on a host of critical issues facing our agricultural sectors. Key among them is full implementation of the remaining provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 2008," said Keenum. "The agricultural trade teams of both countries will remain in close contact over the coming months to maintain momentum on outstanding issues," said Crowder. "We remain confident that through continued cooperation and dialogue, we can successfully reach full implementation of NAFTA on Jan. 1, 2008, to the benefit of both our agricultural sectors."....