Bipartisan Bill Would Create
Trade Representative For Ag

WASHINGTON —(AP)— Agricultural producers would have a permanent advocate for trade under legislation introduced last week by Missouri Republican Sen. John Ashcroft.

The bipartisan bill has the backing of the U.S. trade representative and more than 80 farm groups nationwide, and its co-sponsors include Republican Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, who in 1990 and 1991 was a fellow in the trade representative's office.

``There's a lot of competition to get the administration's focus on trade issues, and this helps agriculture get a place at the trough,'' Brownback said.

``There are literally hundreds of industries seeking assistance from the U.S. government on their trade issues, and you need to be toward the front of the line if you're going to get your issues resolved,'' he said. ``This will ensure that within the administration you'll have a high-level official pushing for agriculture issues.''

The measure formalizes the job now held by Peter Scher, who as deputy special trade representative for agriculture has played a key role in a nasty trade fight with the European Union over bananas and the battle over Canadian trade practices.

``Our farmers need the U.S. Trade Representative to send a clear message to foreign governments that we expect a fair opportunity to make sales in other markets,'' Ashcroft said. ``Foreign countries that persist in erecting unfair trade barriers must expect a firm response.''

The measure's introduction last week came as the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Dick Lugar of Indiana, introduced trade legislation to halt sanctions and open markets for American farm products.

Lugar referred to President Clinton's comments in his State of the Union address about the importance of bringing prosperity to the family farm.

``The most important thing we can give farmers is the ability to export their products abroad,'' Lugar said. ``This bill does that.''

The measure, whose co-sponsors include Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, an Agriculture Committee member, sets objectives for U.S. negotiators at trade talks later in the year that include elimination of foreign export subsidies and beefing up World Trade Organization implementation.

Along with Ashcroft and Brownback, the ``agriculture ambassador'' bill's backers include GOP Sens. Conrad Burns of Montana, Charles Grassley of Iowa and Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, along with Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle and Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana.

Brownback predicted success this year for efforts to ease the burden of U.S. trade sanctions borne by farmers.

But he is not as optimistic about strengthening the United States' hand on farm issues at the trade negotiating table, he said, because of Democratic reluctance to pass fast-track trade negotiating authority for the president.

``I thought the response, primarily from Democratic members, was not in favor of fast track, which is what you need for agricultural trade to go forward,'' Brownback said of Clinton's State of the Union address.