20121219-OSEC-LSC-0233 (8293101220)

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk listens to a question from international news media journalists at the 23rd Session of the U.S. China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. The JCCT holds high-level plenary meetings on an annual basis to review progress made by working groups that focus on a wide variety of trade issues. These working groups meet throughout the year to address topics such as intellectual property rights, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, information technology, tourism, commercial law, environment, and statistics. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.