Veneman to Rome, Doha

November 5, 2001

Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman travels to Doha, Qatar, this week with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick as part of a delegation that hopes to begin a new round of negotiations in the World Trade Organization. Veneman also will attend the 31st Food and Agriculture Organization meeting in Rome prior to the WTO meetings today through Wednesday. She will meet with individual trade ministers on issues of mutual concern. During the FAO meeting, she will deliver remarks on the subject of fair trade rules for the development of biotechnology to help feed the developing world, improve nutrition, prevent losses from pests and disease and reduce the use of inputs that can harm the environment.

"International trade is critical to the profitability of U.S. agriculture," Veneman said. "Agriculture exports account for 25% of farmers' gross sales. With fundamental reform, tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods, currently averaging 60%, can be reduced, helping our farmers and giving them increased export opportunities around the world."

Veneman said the meetings are very important for the United States as a whole but agriculture in particular. "President Bush, U.S. Trade Representative Zoellick and I have made agriculture a top priority for the new round of international trade talks. We are hopeful that these meetings will set the stage for further reductions in tariffs on U.S. agricultural products and a stronger science-based dispute settlement process. These areas will help increase access to world markets for U.S. farmers, ranchers and food producers."

"For too long, agriculture was left outside the trading rules," she said. "Over the past 50 years, tariffs on U.S. agricultural products have barely budged while tariffs on manufactured goods have been brought down some 90 percent. This administration is fully committed to turning that around for agriculture."

U.S. objectives for the new round include elimination of export subsidies, excessive tariffs on U.S. goods, and the reduction of trade-distorting subsidies.