Statement On Agriculture by Deputy Secretary Richard Rominger United States
Department of Agriculture at World Trade Organization Singapore Ministerial 
December 11, 1996

                                              Release No. 0632.96




     "Mr. Chairman, as the WTO moves beyond this Ministerial toward a new
century and further trade liberalization, agriculture needs to remain a top
priority.  For most countries around the world, agriculture is the most
important sector of trade.  It's essential that --as the World Trade
Organization matures-- we continue to make steady progress in freer and
fairer agricultural trade.

     "In Marrakesh we all made a historic commitment to bring agriculture
under the aegis of the WTO.  Through the implementation of the Uruguay Round
we are bringing freer trade to agriculture.  But we agreed then that it was
a historic first step.  We need to keep going.

     "One look at economic growth, trade growth, and the development growth
of the past few years-- not to mention the long line of nations who want to
join the WTO-- and it is clear that trade liberalization is the path toward
a more peaceful, prosperous future.

     "The overriding success of the WTO and the Uruguay Round supports what
history has always shown: Protectionism and isolationism are never the right
answers.  We are a community of nations that can only achieve our full
potential together.  

     "The United States shares the WTO's assessment that --overall-- our
nations have done a good job of keeping the Uruguay Round agricultural
commitments and are proceeding in good faith.  But our work is far from
complete and is not perfect.

     "When we created the WTO in Marrakesh, we understood that building a
strong, shared marketplace --that spurs growth in output, jobs and exports--
would require each of us to make some sacrifices. So we sought a balance of
concessions where success hinges on every nation doing its part.  We created
a framework of rules by which progress and commitment by Members can be
measured.

     "The United States has been actively engaged over the past two years in
the activities of the Committees on Agriculture, and Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures, the Working Party on State Trading Enterprises, and
the Decision on Least-Developed and Net Food-Importing Developing Countries. 
We are pleased with the progress that has been made in these fora, and we
look forward to continued progress leading to further reform of agriculture
in 1999.  In this regard, we look forward to the process of analysis and
information exchange which will enable the Committee on Agriculture to
further pursue in 1997 and thereafter all relevant provisions of the
Agreement on Agriculture.

     "Most countries have proceeded in conformity with the rules and spirit
of our Agreement on Agriculture.  Some have not.  Some have failed to
establish tariff-rate quotas... some have allowed tariff-rate quotas to go
unfilled due to restrictive import policies... some have violated export
subsidy commitments, and some have maintained unjustified sanitary and
phytosanitary measures.  All these countries have sacrificed principle for
political expedience.

     "As WTO Members continue to implement the Uruguay Round, we must not
forget that beyond establishing rules and shaping a freer marketplace --we
are also setting precedent.  How we honor our commitments will determine the
relevance of this organization in shaping the future of agricultural trade.  

     "Having implemented and monitored the Uruguay Round commitments to
date, all WTO Member countries know that additional reform is necessary. 
The system we established in Marrakesh is young, and we are learning,
through the ongoing work of the Committee on Agriculture as well as other
bodies, to identify where we have done well and where we need further work. 
We are finding that the current system does not adequately address a number
of issues of critical importance to our agricultural community.  For
example, reforms are essential in the administration of tariff-rate quotas
and in the elimination of unjustified sanitary and phytosanitary barriers. 
This is becoming clear as we study notifications and encounter
implementation irregularities.  In addition, much work is needed in
disciplining the activities of state trading enterprises and eliminating
export subsidies.

     "Mr. Chairman, the United States remains engaged, and committed --both
in bilateral negotiations and through the WTO -to challenging trade-distorting activities in whatever form they arise.  It is in our best
interest.  It's also in the best interest of this organization and the
Member countries.  The WTO is the multilateral forum for developing binding
trade agreements and is only as strong as the actions of the countries that
comprise it.  Thank you."

                                #

NOTE: USDA news releases and media advisories are available on the Internet.
Access the USDA Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.usda.gov