Dairy Group Pledges Continued Trade Effort

December 9, 1999

The International Dairy Foods Association will continue to seek agricultural trade reform despite the stalemate in the World Trade Organization talks that developed in Seattle. Eliminating export subsidies "gained ground"at Seattle, says IDFA, one positive development that emerged from the talks.

Janet Nuzum, IDFA vice president and general counsel and a former commissioner of the U.S. International Trade Commission, said, "The difficulties of getting 135 countries to agree, through consensus, on a common broad-cased agenda for the upcoming negotiations were enormous. Many of the issues under consideration were complex, politically sensitive issues. Some issues had faced difficulties in previous rounds of negotiations; others represented new ground for the WTO."

A larger WTO membership means additional discussion "is obviously needed," says Nuzum. "Nevertheless we remain optimistic that a new round of negotiations will eventually be launched, because all countries have an interest in expanding economic opportunities and raising the living standards of their citizens."

That agricultural reform is a contentious subject for international debate is nothing new, she adds. Still, the fact that IDFA's top priority -- the elimination of export subsidies -- received "broad support" in Seattle from most countries' delegations was a plus, she said

"Of course, government officials can be only as aggressive and reform-minded as their constituencies' circumstances allow. That is why IDFA will also be working hard to increase support in foreign countries for the agricultural trade reforms that we believe are in the global interest," Nuzum said.