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High-Value Exports 



High-value products will continue to comprise a large and growing share of world 

 trade in agricultural products. High-value products today represent over two-thirds of 

 total world agricultural trade, up from 54 percent in 1985. This share is expected to 

 climb to 75 percent by 1998. 



In 1993, record sales were made to each of our top six markets. And Russia is 

 emerging as one of our largest markets. 1993 sales to Russia totalled $345.5 million and 

 in the first three months of 1994, exports have already reached $126.5 million-a 277% 

 increase over exports for the same period last year! 



By the year 2000, the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture will be fully 

 implemented, reducing tariffs, removing non-tariff barriers, and limiting export subsidies 

 on a number of products. These changes can only help U.S. exports increase. For 

 example, Japan, our largest export market, will reduce its tariffs on a variety of high 

 value products including candies, canned peaches, fruit cocktail, canned sweet corn, not 

 to mention our achievement of access for rice. 



And let us not forget the increase in world income and economic growth that will 

 be realized. We have seen over and over again, that the first thing a developing country 

 does when its income grows is improve its diet. Developing countries diversify their 

 diets. More people will demand fruit, vegetables, and other high-value products. The 

 Uruguay Round requirement that sanitary and phytosanitary measures be based upon 

 sound scientific principles is likely to play a significant role in assuring that barriers to 

 trade are not erected under the guise of protecting animal, plant or human health. So 

 called "S&P" will be a key implementation focus. 



