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not be to achieve this by rigidly directing sales efforts toward country X or country Y without 

 consideration of ever changing circumstances. 



I would like to stress to the committee that markets differ given the individual commodity involved. 

 For some commodities, Europe is a mature or declining market. For others, it is a new opportunity 

 with extensive potential given its large population and strong consumer buying power. The point is 

 that we must have an agricultural trade policy flexible enough to handle changing circumstances 

 based on individual commodity needs. 



In terms of successfully marketing a product to foreign countries, often times the key component is 

 simple market access. While the Uruguay Rounds should greatly assist in gaining access, it by no 

 means solves the problem. I envision that U.S. agricultural exports will be faced with a large number 

 of new technical barriers now that tariffs and quotas are to be reduced or eliminated. For this 

 reason, I advocate greater recognition by Congress of the need for a coordinated approach on 

 technical issues under the leadership of the Secretary of Agriculture. A strong and cooperative 

 working relationship must exist between the various agencies and departments with expertise 

 needed to overcome trade barriers. These include the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, the 

 Agricultural Research Service and the Foreign Agricultural Service. In addition, other agencies of 

 the government, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug 

 Administration, need to be made aware that Congress expects them to work cooperatively in 

 expanding agricultural trade opportunities for U.S. producers. Congress should place greater priority 

 on these technical areas involving trade barriers and fund agencies accordingly. 



Both the office of the United States Trade Representative and the Foreign Agricultural Service are 

 doing outstanding work in regard to trade policy initiatives aimed at opening markets. It is vital that 



