27 



Mr. Penny. Again, welcome to the committee. Ms. Brookins, we 

 will start with you. 



STATEMENT OF CAROL L. BROOKINS, PRESIDENT, WORLD 



PERSPECTIVES, INC. 



Ms. Brookins. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think we have the 

 rose between two thorns. I would like to submit my testimony for 

 the record. 



Mr. Penny. Without objection. 



Ms. Brookins. My name is Carol Brookins. I have been deeply 

 engaged in the issues affecting agricultural trade strategies and ex- 

 port policies since 1972. 



Mr. Chairman, you were right on target as always in calling this 

 hearing. Agricultural trade today is entering an entirely new world, 

 a new era, as we move into a truly globalized marketplace, due to 

 both politics and technologies. Agricultural markets, I believe, have 

 a potential to expand substantially as we move toward the 21st 

 century for several reasons. But we must: Identify the markets; 

 identify the buyers; determine useful policies; and execute an effec- 

 tive strategy. 



Different countries and different product markets will require 

 different policies and different strategies. Not only is the context of 

 our markets changing in terms of Government policies. State trad- 

 ing monopolies are tumbling like dominoes. Private trading, mar- 

 keting, and distributing companies are replacing large State ex- 

 porters. Their purchases will be smaller; market intelligence will 

 be more difficult to obtain; and financing needs will be far dif- 

 ferent. 



To be successful in this rapidly changing marketplace, the Unit- 

 ed States needs to build on our strengths and be willing to discard 

 outmoded programs, operating structures, and policies. 



First and foremost, we need to build our export mission in a way 

 to market the asset of our tremendously powerful food system, and 

 not view our potential in a limited or narrow product focus or 

 strictly agricultural or farm focus. The U.S. food system is a high 

 technology leader and winner for the United States in the global 

 marketplace. 



We need to shift and leverage existing resources to target our 

 long-term mission objectives. We need to be flexible and able to re- 

 spond to specific requirements in individual country markets. We 

 need to use technological advances to enhance cooperation and 

 streamline our market development promotion operations that in- 

 volve both the public and private sectors. 



What kind of policies and strategies do we need to respond effec- 

 tively? I have several specific program suggestions to make in brief. 



First, food system growth in developing country markets calls for 

 greater coordination in our policies, not only those programs in the 

 Department of Agriculture that move bulk and high value commod- 

 ities. 



Second, export credit guarantee programs must be made more 

 flexible and commercially relevant to meet changing needs of buy- 

 ers and markets. We should be developing programs for private 

 buyers that have shorter term maturities. We should be consider- 

 ing supplier credit guarantees, as Chris Goldthwait discussed. We 



