Combest Will Lead Ag Delegation to Seattle

October 19, 1999

House Agriculture committee chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) will lead a delegation of 14 members of the committee to Seattle Nov. 3--Dec. 3 for the opening sessions of the World Trade Organization international trade talks. A committee hearing will be held Wednesday to review the government's plans for the Seattle negotiations.

Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Brashefsky will review the government's plan for the negotiations before the committee. Combest has pledged close consultations between the committee and USTR and USDA during the negotiations in Seattle.

"Farmers and ranchers in the United States depend on the worldwide agricultural trade market," says Combest. "The negotiations that begin in Seattle later next month will have a profound impact on U.S. agriculture. Throughout this process, it is essential that these worldwide trade negotiations proceed under the close scrutiny of the farm sector represented by the agriculture committee. World trade can provide greater opportunities for the success of our farmers and ranchers when the terms are fair to all concerned."