Talks for Pacific Trade Deal Stumble

Trade negotiators from the U.S. and 11 other Pacific nations failed to reach final agreement in July. Trade ministers deadlocked over protections for drug companies and access to agriculture markets, the New York Times reported.

The Times reported that a deal filled with 21st-century policies on Internet access, advanced pharmaceuticals and trade in clean energy foundered on issues that have bedeviled international trade for decades: access to dairy markets in Canada, sugar markets in the U.S. and rice markets in Japan.

The bright spot might have been successful completion of negotiations on environmental matters, including illegal wildlife trafficking, forestry management, overfishing and marine protection.

Failure to complete the deal means the next round of negotiations will push ratification into 2016, a presidential election year. Further delay raises the prospect that a deal sealed by President Obama might have to be ratified by his successor. S