The WTO’s appellate body — key to resolving disputes among its 164 member nations — ceased to function about a month ago, indefinitely putting key cases on hold that the U.S. ag sector would like to see settled.

It remains unclear if recent Chinese moves will translate into major gains for the biotech and farming sectors there and in the U.S.

China has agreed to make significant policy changes to tear down non-tariff barriers to U.S. farm commodities under the trade deal expected to be signed early next year, according to industry sources who were briefed on the pact and government officials with knowledge of the briefing.

New disclosure requirements finalized by USDA for biotech foods will exempt products with inadvertent amounts of genetically ingredients as well as vegetable oils, sugar and other foods where the DNA of genetically engineered crops can’t be detected.

USDA, EPA and the Interior Department could all shut down at the end of this week unless lawmakers can reach a deal on President Trump’s funding demands for the border wall.

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2017 – USDA chief Sonny Perdue is in China primarily to celebrate the resumption of beef trade, but he’s also using the occasion to press officials there on the country’s need to reform its biotech approval process and to lift its bans on U.S. rice and poultry.