FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 1997
Contact: Dave Redmond
(202) 225-4050
WASHINGTON, D.C. - WITH
NEW WORLD AGRICULTURE TRADE TALKS ON THE HORIZON IN 1999 AND AGRICULTURE
CONSTITUTING THE LARGEST POSITIVE ITEM IN THE UNITED STATES' BALANCE
OF TRADE, THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LED BY CHAIRMAN
BOB SMITH (R-OR), HAS REAFFIRMED THE IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING TRADE
BARRIERS AND ENCOURAGING U.S. AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS IN TRADE TALKS
WITH OFFICIALS IN NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA.
Smith, who represents Oregon's Second Congressional
District in the U.S. House of Representatives, has made opening
markets for American agricultural exports the Agriculture Committee's
highest priority in the 105th Congress, leading trade
delegations to Chile, Argentina, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, and
the Philippines, and generating tens of millions of dollars in
benefits to American agriculture. From November 30 to December
7, the agriculture delegation, which consists of 10 Members of
Congress, visited New Zealand, traveling to Australia from December
8 to December 16.
"I'm delighted with our success in New Zealand
and Australia, and I'm convinced that officials in both countries
not only recognize and agree with our desire to reduce barriers
to agricultural trade, but will act accordingly. New Zealand and
Australia are not only warm friends, but they are very aggressive
competitors. They recognize that free trade has to be fair trade
if farmers and ranchers in all our countries are to prosper,"
Smith said.
"The 1999 World Trade Organization talks on
agriculture are the next great opportunity to secure real, lasting
reductions in barriers to agricultural trade. As we prepare for
those negotiations, it's critical that all countries adopt policies
that respect not just the benefits of trade, but the responsibilities,
as well. We want to make sure that our trading partners practice
what they preach, and I believe New Zealand and Australia are
more inclined to do so as a result of our talks," Smith said.
In New Zealand, the congressional delegation stressed
access to New Zealand for U.S. salmon, as well as steps to improve
access for U.S. poultry, pears, tangerines, and avocados. In Australia,
the delegation sought assurances that U.S. requests for access
to the Australian market for U.S. fruits, nuts, pork, and poultry
will not be required to "start from scratch" under the
new Australian risk assessment system. Smith said the congressional
delegation would continue their dialogue with New Zealand and
Australian officials on these topics.
The trade mission to New Zealand and Australia wraps
up a busy and successful year for the Agriculture Committee. For
the first time since 1978, the Committee crafted a comprehensive
overhaul of the nation's agricultural research programs (H.R.
2534), ushering the measure through the full House of Representatives
in early November. The Committee successfully tackled long-standing
and contentious public resource management issues, bringing a
broad range of congressional interests together to assure House
passage of a public lands grazing bill, The Forage Improvement
Act of 1997 (H.R. 2493), and Committee passage of a forest health
bill, The Forest Recovery and Protection Act (H.R. 2515). In addition,
the Committee held numerous hearings on civil rights issues in
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department's response
to the Government Performance and Results Act, and passed a measure
(H.R. 1000) denying food stamp benefits to prisoners.
Smith was joined on the trade mission to New Zealand
and Australia by Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), the Republican Conference
Chairman, Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA), Rep. Bill Barrett (R-NE),
Rep. Tom Ewing (R-IL), Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), Rep. Gary Condit
(D-CA), Rep. Eva Clayton (D-NC), Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA), and Rep.
Collin Peterson (D-MN).