Why Trade Talks Stalled...
Ag Chairman Saxby Chambliss told the European Union's trade negotiator Peter
Mandelson that Senators feel the EU has failed to respond in a commensurate
manner to the United States' significant, original opening offer made in October
2005.
Following their afternoon meeting of more than an hour, Chairman Chambliss
spoke about the key to moving forward being real
and meaningful access of U.S. farmers to European
markets.
(both links are :14 sec audio files from Sept 27, 2006)
(free audio
software)
American Access to World Markets
"One of the more important and effective
ways to create more jobs in the United States is to increase our trading opportunities
by opening foreign markets so that we can sell more American products and
increase our business opportunities overseas.
The tangible rewards of increased sales make the importance of supporting
more open trade clear and convincing."
Chairman Saxby
Chambliss, (R-GA)
U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee
| market concerns for cattle, cotton, lumber, sugar - news releases |
"Market access is part of the solution for cotton"
International Monetary Fund and United Nations
studies conclude the U.S. subsidy program has only a marginal 2% impact on
the price of cotton sold by West African farmers.
"It would be unfair to the cotton farmer in West Africa to say it is all about subsidies." US Trade Ambassador Portman: West African cotton
Russian poultry action: raises concern about Russia's desire to join WTO
US wins Corn export ruling
WTO ruling against European Union biotech ban sends broader message, says Ag Chairman: “Non-tariff trade barriers, thinly disguised measures to restrict trade will not be tolerated."
Lapse in unique agreement with Japan on US beef.
Ag Chairman's View of WTO Hong Kong Ministerial
"I remain disappointed that the European
Union never put forward an ambitious proposal prior to and during the Ministerial
and continued to attack food aid in order to distract the attention of negotiators
from the inherent barriers to trade in the international marketplace.
"I will urge our negotiators to push the European Union for more aggressive commitments since export subsidies are a major cause of market distortions." read chairman's statement
EU's Trade Proposal Falls ShortUS
Requires EU, Japan Access
"If other countries do not harmonize their levels
of domestic support and provide meaningful and tangible market access, then
the Senate and House will find it very difficult to support the final agreement."
Chairman's
statement Oct 10, 2005
Four principles for US Trade negotiator
1) Substantial improvement in real market access
2) Greater harmonization in trade-distorting domestic support, 3) Elimination
of export subsidies,
4) Greater certainty and predictability regarding WTO litigation.
read Senate, House Ag Chairmen's 2-page
letter
"A successful agreement is important, but it also must follow through on the promises of additional market access and a stable and predictable trade environment.” Chambliss statement.
Impacts on the next U.S. Farm
Bill
Chairman Chambliss writes US Ag Secretary to consider impact of WTO talks
on domestic supports.
Letter to Secretary Johanns (2-page pdf file)
Softwood Lumber dispute
resolved with Canada
"The agreement reached today removes probably the largest irritant
between our two countries ” Chambliss
statement
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