OPENING STATEMENT 

 THE HONORABLE BILL SARPALIUS 



HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE 

 HEARING ON NAFTA AND GATT 

 MARCH 17, 1993 



Thank you Mr. Chairman, and welcome to our distinguished 

 witness, Trade Ambassador Mickey Kantor. It is truly a 

 pleasure to have you here today to discuss two topics of great 

 importance to the American economy, the North American Free 

 Trade Agreement and the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement 

 on Tariffs and Trade. 



While GATT has its own distinct set of problems, especially 

 concerning the opposition of American policies by French farmers 

 in the European Community, NAFTA offers us, both in the Congress 

 and the Administration, the opportunity to formulate and shape 

 policy that will directly affect the American economy for many 

 years to come. I am both excited and cautious about this 

 particular policy, and I hope that we will be able to work 

 together to critically and thoroughly analyze the impacts of 

 NAFTA. 



While NAFTA is projected to be a benefit for a great deal of 

 agriculture in my district, I have several concerns that I feel 

 need to be addressed. Wheat trade has suffered since the U.S. - 

 Canada Free Trade Agreement and there is no indication that 

 these issues will be dealt with in NAFTA. The issues of end use 

 certificates and Canadian rail subsidies are of central concern 

 to American wheat producers, and I feel that is our obligation 

 and our duty to investigate these concerns, along with those of 

 sugar, fresh fruits, vegetables, and other adversely impacted 

 commodities. 



The three side agreements proposed by President Clinton will be 

 an excellent means of addressing these concerns, and I look 

 forward to hearing your thoughts on these matters, and working 

 with you to ensure that the agreement will be of benefit to all 

 of the American economy. This must be our purpose in this 

 matter. 



I thank you, Ambassador Kantor, for coming before this Committee 

 to address these concerns, and I look forward to hearing your 

 testimony. 



