Congressional Trade Caucus Is Formed

October 18, 1999

With the appropriations bill and its massive farmer relief program behind them, members of the Senate and House are turning their attention to trade. Seventeen senators and 22 members of the House have formed a "WTO Trade Caucus for Farmers and Ranchers." The World Trade Organization talks begin in Seattle Nov. 30.

Trade ministers from 135 countries will meet in Seattle to begin a new round of international trade negotiations. The agricultural round has become a focal point for U.S. farm organizations and government officials in an effort to wrench open worldwide markets.

Members of the caucus say their primary goals are to expand market access for U.S. agricultural products through the reduction of foreign tariffs and to work toward the elimination of export subsidies on which many European governments rely heavily to sell their agricultural commodities on the world market.

"It's a fact that if the playing field were level, our farmers and ranchers would have no problem holding their own in the global marketplace," says Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT), a member of the caucus. "Unfortunately, foreign governments have been working overtime to undercut American ag producers through the use of subsidies and unfair trade practices."