US, Pakistan Strengthen Mango, Live Cattle Trade, Says USTR

U.S. and Pakistani senior officials reviewed progress on the Joint Action Plan for implementation of the bilateral trade and investment partnership (TIFA) on March 12, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in a statement (here). The U.S. and Pakistan have made headway in facilitating Pakistani mango exports to the U.S. and U.S. live cattle exports to Pakistan, said USTR. The two sides announced the action plan nearly a year ago, and at the time vowed to use that forum to sharpen intellectual property rights protections and implement the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement, among other goals (see 14051326). The March 12 meeting came between TIFA formal sessions, said USTR. The March 12 summit also followed a March 9-12 trade trip by the Commerce Secretary and 140 representatives from U.S. companies, across a wide range of sectors. USTR called that trip a "success."