The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing last week on the nomination of Darci Vetter to be the chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The position of chief agricultural negotiator, which holds the rank of ambassador, was created by Congress in 1997 to ensure that U.S. agriculture is fully represented in trade negotiations at the highest level.

Vetter is the current deputy under secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

During the confirmation hearing, Vetter mentioned specific areas where USTR and Congress need to work together, including market access for U.S. dairy in Japan and Canada, as well as geographical indications (GIs).

“We and the European Union have a difference of views about the scope and level of coverage that should be provided to GIs. We need to work together to ensure that the U.S. dairy manufacturers and meat makers, for example, have the opportunity to sell products under generic names,” Vetter said.

IDFA was one 97 food and agricultural organizations and companies that strongly supported Vetter’s confirmation in a letter sent to the Senate Finance Committee in January.

For more information, contact Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, at bhughes@idfa.org