Short Term Spending Bill and Japan approves TPP
From the Ag Information Network, I'm Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
The Senate passed a short-term fiscal 2017 spending bill to avert a government shutdown and then gave final congressional approval to a water projects bill that includes drought relief for California farmers.
The new measure , which the Senate approved 63-36 about 11 p.m. Friday night, an hour before it was due to expire, includes a provision to ensure that USDA's Farm Service Agency can handle demand in coming months for farm operating loans.
Japan's government has approved the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.
The Japanese Prime Minister says he hopes the action persuades President-elect Trump to reconsider the trade deal. Trump has publicly stated he will pull the U.S. out of the agreement during his first day in office. Trump says he instead wants to negotiate fair, bilateral trade deals.
Japan is also in talks with the European Union and 16 Asian nations to draft other partnerships.
