China Rejects Corn & EPA Talks plus TPP Concerns

China Rejects Corn & EPA Talks plus TPP Concerns. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

Questions are growing concerning China's recent rejections of U.S. corn shipments. China has rejected more than 600,000 metric tonnes of U.S. corn since mid-November charging it contained an unapproved genetically-modified variety. That corn has been accepted by a number of countries and has been awaiting approval from Beijing for more than two years. Some speculate the rejections are due to a glut of corn in China thanks to a record domestic corn harvest and a decline in animal feed consumption. Ag Under Secy' Michael Scuse.

SCUSE: To see if we can get a process in place where our companies will be able to get approval in a more timely manner. The grain shipments that have been held in port contain and event that the company asked China to approve four years ago.

A bipartisan group of Senators met with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to discuss the proposed reduction in the Renewable Fuel Standard. According to Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley - the Administrator heard a lot about the harm the proposal would do to the environment, national and energy security and rural economies.

Now U.S. ag groups are expressing concerns about Japan's latest demands in the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations and how that could impact export access to that market, as well as a trade deal itself. Rod Bain reports.

(USDA Report)

Thanks Rod. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.