PROSPECTS of a world trade deal have been dealt a blow by the US Congress and Senate, which paid little attention to the trade negotiations by overwhelmingly supporting a $285 billion Farm Bill which experts believe has increased trade-distorting supports on 17 out of 25 commodities policed by the World Trade Organisation.

Washington: The White House was expected to lay out how the United States will begin easing its ban on Canadian beef imports in a briefing with US meat groups yesterday, industry officials said.