July 12, 1999

A coalition of agricultural and agribusiness groups is asking the Clinton Administration not to go into the international trade talks this fall advocating the concept of "early harvest" that allows trade sectors to conclude negotiations independently of other sectors. They say "nothing could be more harmful to American agriculture."

The United States is to table a paper this week to the General Council of the WTO that supports early harvest in the upcoming negotiations this fall in Seattle, WA. Allowing early harvest "will strip the incentives of other countries to remain at the negotiating table until the full (trade) package is negotiated," the groups said in a letter to President Clinton that is being circulated for signatures.

"While we understand the importance of concluding meaningful results on a whole host of issues, we urge you to revisit the notion of allowing certain sectors to reap the harvests of timely negotiations while negotiations on other, equally important sectors, linger...The concept of `single undertaking' will achieve meaningful negotiation results for all."

The National Association of Wheat Growers, one of the groups belonging to the Seattle Round Agriculture Committee, the coalition that is sending the letter today, believes early harvest would allow negotiators to reach agreement on some items before considering all the issues.

Such an approach "might undermine the U.S. position on key agricultural issues and put important negotiations at risk," says NAWG. Therefore, a "take it or leave all" approach is preferred.