STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE ROBERT F. (BOB) SMITH
CHAIRMAN
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURE TRADE INTO THE 21ST
CENTURY
MARCH 18, 1997
I want to take this opportunity to welcome the Secretary of Agriculture back to the Committee. As a former Member of the Committee and now as President Clinton's Secretary of Agriculture, Dan Glickman knows the importance placed on agriculture trade by Members of this Committee. I am confident that he agrees with me that American farmers and ranchers, the most productive in the world, can prosper only where there is free and fair world trade.
In fact, if not for agriculture exports the United States trade deficit would be larger than it currently is. In 1996, U.S. agriculture exports totaled $60 billion and the agriculture trade surplus exceeded $26 billion. There is, nevertheless, ample opportunity for expansion of agriculture trade into the 21st century.
It is incumbent on the Administration, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the Trade Representative, and other agencies of the United States government, to make sure that opportunities exist for trade expansion and that trade disputes are resolved in a timely manner. Agriculture is an extremely important and essential issue to be considered in all trade negotiations and resolutions of disputes.
Agriculture is the #1 high-tech export and must be the #1 priority with the Administration. Historically, agriculture has been a leader in biotechnology, a process through which researchers develop improved seeds and crops, such as those naturally protected from diseases and insects. This process has enabled farmers and ranchers to increase yields and thereby exports. It has also brought challenges from our trading partners.
The Uruguay Round agreement included provisions on sanitary and phytosanitary disputes and provided that sound science be the basis for resolution of such disputes. Countries' use of non-tariff trade barriers to restrict imports, especially those related to sanitary and phytosanitary issues, do great harm to American agriculture exports and thereby the income of our farmers and ranchers.
The purpose of the Committee on Agriculture's hearing today is to discuss agriculture trade, the opportunities for expansion of this trade, and the barriers that face exporters. I expect to hear from the Secretary about implementation of trade agreements, the monitoring of the implementation of these agreements by other countries, and how to secure fair treatment for American commodities in world trade.
Members have been provided a document pertaining to U.S. and world agriculture trade that was prepared by the Congressional Research Service for this hearing. The information includes historical data on U.S. agricultural exports; the funding levels of our competitors for both export and domestic programs; and indicators of trends for future growth in agriculture exports. I hope Members will find this information helpful as we consider our trade policies into the 21st century.
Welcome, Mr. Secretary. We look forward to hearing your views and the plans of the Administration on this very important topic.