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BIO Applauds Administration’s Progress in Brazilian Cotton Dispute

<p>
The Obama Administration has made substantial progress to avoid retaliatory measures in a long-running &ldquo;cotton dispute&rdquo; brought by Brazil against the United States.</p>

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Tuesday, April 06, 2010) - The Obama Administration has made substantial progress to avoid retaliatory measures in a long-running “cotton dispute” brought by Brazil against the United States.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced today that the United States and Brazil have agreed upon next steps toward a negotiated settlement with Brazil.

Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) issued the following statement in support of the Administration’s efforts:  

“On behalf of BIO and its members, we applaud the Obama Administration for the progress they have made in their discussions with Brazil.  

“Thanks to our U.S. negotiating team, we have been spared the imposition of retaliatory measures on a number of products including pharmaceuticals and agricultural seeds.  

“We will continue to monitor these discussions within the Administration and in Congress until a long-term solution to this dispute is crafted.  We trust that further discussions will result in an agreement that will be mutually-agreeable to both countries, respectful of our Farm Bill process and amenable to American farmers, workers and consumers.” 

*More information on the agreement, including statements from USTR and USDA, is posted at www.ustr.gov and www.usda.gov.

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO Intellectual Property Counsels Spring Conference and Committee Meeting
April 19-21, 2010
New Orleans, LA 

Partnering for Global Health
May 3, 2010
Chicago, IL
McCormick Place Convention Center

BIO International Convention
May 3-6, 2010
Chicago, IL
McCormick Place Convention Center

2010 BIO Human Resources Conference
May 4-7, 2010
Chicago, IL 

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing
June 27-30, 2010
Washington, DC

BIO India
September 21 - 22, 2010
Hyderabad, India

 

BIO’s Livestock Biotechnology Summit
September 28-30, 2010,
Sioux Falls, SD

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

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