Central Valley Representatives Defend U.S. Trade Interests in Geneva Meetings

Central Valley Representatives Defend U.S. Trade Interests in Geneva Meetings

Today, Representatives Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced), Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) announced the conclusion of productive meetings with high-level trade officials in Geneva, including an extended session with Pascal Lamy, Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Representatives, who share a commitment to global trade reforms that would end distorting subsidies, high tariffs and other non-tariff barriers, defended U.S. trade interests in high-level meetings with foreign officials, including WTO Ambassadors from China, India, Brazil, and the European Union. They also participated in meetings with the United Nations, World Health Organization and World Food Program.

Representatives Cardoza, Costa and Nunes had the following to say about their trip:

"In today's global economy, it is essential that the interests of the Central Valley are forcefully defended. I am proud to have joined my colleagues Jim Costa and Devin Nunes in pushing for badly-needed reforms to current global trade policies. Together, we will continue to fight for a level playing field for California agriculture in the international marketplace," said Cardoza.

"The discussions we held with foreign trade officials were important for agriculture - the Valley's leading industry. We impressed upon the officials with whom we met that free trade must be fair trade and that agriculture cannot and should not be an afterthought," Costa said.

"It is essential that Members of Congress are engaged in global trade discussions. I represent the most diverse crop base in the United States. We know that our farmers can compete globally. It's not a question of efficiency or quality. It's a question of economic viability when the other traders are benefiting from subsidies. Dennis, Jim and I were outspoken in our defense of U.S. trade interests. We need to be. Our global competitors are in Geneva and they are in the negotiating rooms. There are a lot of interests in the United States and we need to make sure our voices are heard," said Nunes.

The United States has proposed ambitious reforms to global trade policy during WTO negotiations, including the elimination of export subsidies, reduction of trade distorting domestic support programs, as well as substantial reductions in tariffs. However, significant barriers remain to an agreement, including the failure of the EU to agree to reform farm support and subsidy programs.

The State of California leads the nation in agriculture exports and is often referred to as the bread basket of the world. Crops grown in the Central Valley are transported to consumers in Mexico and Canada, as well as distant regions such as Turkey, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, China and India. Due to the diversity of California crops and the extensive farming of fruits and vegetables, market access and other non-tariff barriers play a significant role in the region's ability to compete. Many crops in the Central Valley do not benefit from farm subsidies and are facing heavily subsidized competition from the EU. For this reason, the Representatives stressed the need for progress in global trade talks on market access, transparency and non-tariff barriers. They also defended U.S. agriculture policy as an appropriate investment in rural America, in keeping with WTO rules.

http://www.house.gov/nunes/press/2006/nov/113006WTOMtg.htm