USDA Ignores USTR: Part of the Obama government is upset about the growing number of government requirements around the world that goods and services be purchased locally, and another part of the Administration is proliferating the practice. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) abhors "measures designed to protect, favor, or stimulate domestic industries, service providers, and/or intellectual property (IP) at the expense of goods, services, or IP from other countries." USTR even created an interagency group called the "Task Force on Localization Barriers" with the intent of raising attention to the problem. Meanwhile, USDA is encouraging the purchase of food produced locally (Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food) and favoring i...

TAGS – Livestock, North America