(Audio of Chairman Smith's opening statement from this morning's
hearing can be obtained by calling 202-226-3977).
"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. Of all U.S. industries, agriculture
has the single largest positive balance of trade," Smith
said.
"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," Smith said.
"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 the income of our farmers and
ranchers," Smith said.
Smith added that, with a declining federal government role in
the agricultural economy, Congress and the Administration have
an obligation to actively seek out new markets for American farm
products.
Smith represents Oregon's Second Congressional District, which
includes most of eastern, central, and southern Oregon, in the
U.S. House of Representatives.