Allen Johnson Chief USTR Agriculture Negotiator

April 20, 2001

Allen Johnson, president of the National Oilseed Processors Association, has been named by President George W. Bush to be the chief agriculture negotiator in the U.S. Trade Representative's office. A native of Iowa, Johnson also served as executive director of the Iowa Soybean Association and is a former aide to Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA). Grassley is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee that has trade jurisdiction in the Senate.

National Pork Producers Council President Barbara Determan found reason to praise the nomination. "Agriculture leads all industries in contributing positively to our nation's balance of trade and this appointment is a recognition of the importance of agriculture to the next round of world trade talks and during bilateral and hemispheric trade negotiations," said Determan.

Johnson grew up working on farms in Iowa and "has played a key role in almost every agricultural trade issue in the recent past. We couldn't be more pleased with the quality of this appointment."

In 1998 Johnson was appointed to USDA's Agriculture Technical Advisory Committee on Trade for Grains and Oilseeds, and serves as the co-chairman of the Seattle Round Agriculture Committee. Johnson was closely involved in coordinating private sector advice on development of the U.S. negotiating position on agriculture presented to the World Trade Organization in June 2000, and in ongoing negotiations on export credits in the OECD.

He also participated in industry efforts to support negotiation of the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and enactment of legislation enabling China's WTO accession.

Grassley said Johnson's appointment "shows that President Bush clearly recognizes the importance of this position to American farmers. Al Johnson is just the right person to hold the job. His Midwestern background, hands-on experience, policy expertise, good judgment, and vision for agriculture will help ensure an aggressive and sustained effort on the part of the administration to open new markets for American farmers. With Al's appointment, farmers can know they have a real friend inside the USTR."