59 



The countries that now comprise the former USSR have been our largest 

 market for U.S. wheat exports for some time. 



It is the U.S. corn trade that is hardest hit by the former Soviet Union's 

 economic turmoil. In the past six marketing years, U.S. corn exports to the 

 former Soviet Union have averaged 9.6 million metric tons. This year, so far, 

 U.S. commitments total only around 5 million tons. Another 2.5 MMT has been 

 announced but not shipped. 



We are nearing the end of the first full international marketing season 

 for grain since the USSR's collapse, and the market situation is chaotic at 

 best. 



Trade History 



Mr. Chairman, you asked about historical patterns of U.S. -Soviet 

 agricultural trade. 



From 1976 to 1990, U.S. grain trade with the USSR was covered by long-term 

 agreements which established minimum levels of annual trade. These agreements 

 were intended to provide some stability to annual USSR grain purchases. 



