18 - 19 April 2018, Washington, DC - Canadian and U.S. Government representatives gathered for the Fifth Informal North American Regional Conference (iNARC) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Over the two day event, iNARC discussed FAO’s initiatives in integrating the priorities identified at the Fourth iNARC held in 2016 into its program of work and elaborated upon their strategic priorities for the coming biennium.

Doug Forsyth, Acting Director General, Trade Agreements and Negotiations, Market and Industry Services Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and Robert Macke, Deputy Administrator, Office of Agreements and Scientific Affairs, FAS-USDA, co-chaired the conference. Daniel Gustafson, FAO Deputy-Director General, and representatives from the concerned technical divisions briefed officials on the agenda items from FAO headquarters. Vimlendra Sharan, FAO North America Director, informed attendees on the priorities and activities of the Liaison Office.