Veneman Signals Bush Dilemma

July 11, 2001

The Bush administration finds itself somewhat boxed in by a desire to get trade promotion authority (TPA), or fast track, in place by the time a new round of World Trade Organization talks begin in November. The time is becoming crucial, because without TPA, U.S. negotiators will be hampered in their abilities to do much but just talk. Firm agreements are out of the question, since without the authority to negotiate freely, Congress would be able to amend agreements and carve them up at will.

Veneman met on Monday with the Japanese agriculture minister and discussed trade issues. She is scheduled to visit Mexico Sunday and Monday to meet with agriculture, environmental and economic ministers there. She said these are get-acquainted sessions, but the upcoming WTO trade round has been a front-burner discussion issue.

The U.S. agenda is familiar: the removal or at least lowering of farm supports, export subsidies and trade tariffs worldwide. Hindering congressional approval of TPA are the issues of labor and the environment. Congress is split over whether other countries should be forced to submit to U.S. demands on labor and the environment before an agreement is signed.

At a news conference Tuesday with agricultural reporters, Veneman also announced that Elsa A Murano, Texas A&M University animal science professor, will be the President's nominee to take over at USDA as under secretary of food safety.

Murano, a native of Cuba, holds a doctorate from Virginia Polytech, and began her tenure at Texas A&M in 1995 where she also has been director of the university's Center for Food Safety, Institute of Food Science & Engineering. From 1992-95 she was a professor at Iowa State University, Ames, and also has held positions at Virginia Polytech and Florida International University.