GATT: FARMERS NEED MORE ANSWERS

What is GATT and will it benefit Missouri agriculture? These are questions that must be answered before Congress moves forward on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Other questions remain such as what commodities gain and which ones lose; what is the future of our export programs; who makes up the revenue shortfalls as a result of falling tariffs; and, will our future domestic federal farm policy take advantage of expanding overseas markets? Without the right answers, the American farmer could lose more than just our share of the current world market.

American agriculture has given up enough at the negotiating table. I have recently urged the White House to oppose any new and inequitable farm spending reductions as a part of the GATT implementing legislation. Allowing spending reductions that do not account for the excessive trade subsidies that the European Community still maintains would be an incorrect approach. Lower tariffs on agricultural products will only account for five percent of the estimated loss in tariff revenue, yet the administration is asking that American agriculture fund more than ten percent of these losses. Clearly, this is unfair to our nation's hard-working farm and ranch producers.

During congressional consideration of the GATT, we must not undermine the efforts of necessary trade and farm programs which generate exports. Even while the ink was still wet on the GATT agreement, White House officials have been working to end agriculture export assistance programs. Programs which create exports -- exports that create 20,000 domestic jobs for every billion dollars in overseas sales -- must be maintained in order to protect future farm income.

Our government's role must be to find more trade opportunities for American agricultural producers by working against unfair foreign barriers, protecting domestic farm income, and supporting export-oriented efforts which create jobs right here in Southern Missouri.

Bill Emerson represents the Missouri eighth district in the U.S. House of Representatives.