Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Richard Lugar (R-IN) wants the Clinton Administration to talk about agricultural biotechnology products at the upcoming G-8 summit.  Restrictions on biotech trade have become serious enough to warrant the attention of world leaders, says Lugar.

Trade agreements "must reflect and accept the rapidly changing opportunities presented through technological progress," Lugar said.  "Other countries' restrictions on the import of these products are grounded in fear not science."

He continued, "It is essential that we build a consensus at the highest political levels with our major trading partners to prevent unjustified barriers to trade in agricultural biotechnology products."  His comments were included in a letter signed by 20 senators and sent to Clinton.

They also urged Clinton to ask G-8 leaders to appoint senior officials to discuss biotechnology trade issues at the upcoming World Trade Organization meetings.