Three Nation Trade Conference Produces Dialogue, Agreement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Rick Kirchhoff 202-296-9680
or
Van Burgess 801 538-7102

Salt Lake City, Utah -- Top Agricultural Officials From the U.S, Canada and Mexico announced an agreement to support a common approach among states and provinces in North America to the upcoming World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations in Seattle, WA, November 30, 1999.

The announcement came as part of the 1999 States/Provinces Agricultural Accord meetings in Salt Lake City July 15-17. The assembled agricultural leaders from the three countries agreed to send the same letter to top federal trade officials in the three countries urging them to avoid any negotiating strategy that does not give top priority to providing fair trade rules and protecting the profitability of North American agriculture.

"We are particularly concerned that some of our negotiators favor an 'early harvest' strategy which could mean taking care of the easiest issues first," said Utah Commissioner of Agriculture Cary G. Peterson. "If the result is that the tough agricultural issues never get dealt with, that would be completely unacceptable to our farmers and ranchers."

During the Accord meeting, agricultural representatives agreed that:

· The continued excessive use of export subsidies by the European Union is eroding the profitability of North American agriculture, and that negotiations must redress this situation;

· Existing international understanding that base regulations on sound science should not be eroded, and dispute settlement should be accelerated and made more effective.

· Attention needs to be given to special trade problems for perishable and seasonal products;

· Food safety is of primary concern to the three countries' agricultural industries, and issues related to biotechnology need to be based on careful analysis and information; and

· Harmonization of pesticide and animal drug usage standards must be a priority.

In an effort to avoid excessive disagreements and disputes among the three North American countries, agricultural leaders have also agreed to establish a new structure of bilateral working groups to study problems as they arise, and to work with federal officials to make sure that they are receiving adequate attention in contacts and negotiations at that level.

The States/Provinces Agricultural Accord first established in 1984, was designed to provide a forum for information exchange among the ten U.S. State Directors and Commissioners of Agriculture who sit on the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and the ten Canadian provincial Ministers of Agriculture. Mexico joined the Accord in 1991.

The Accord seeks to avoid costly and divisive legal trade actions; to resolve minor trade disputes among the three countries, and to address common cross-border agri-food issues. It is intended to provide an opportunity and mechanism for Canadian provinces and U.S. and Mexican states to exchange information, views and suggestions on various aspects of the agriculture and food industries in their respective jurisdictions.

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