[The following is the text of a letter sent to U.S. Secretary of
Agriculture Ann Veneman, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoelick,
Representatives Bill Thomas (R-CA), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Larry
Combest (R-TX), Charles Stenholm (D-TX) and Senators Charles Grassley
(R-IA), Max Baucus (D-MT), Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Tom Harkin
(D-IA).]
April 3, 2001
On behalf of the members of the Dairy Trade Advisory
Council (DTAC), we are writing to request your assistance in
ascertaining answers to some challenging issues which have been the
subject of a recent New York state news story published in the Watertown
Daily Times (see attached) on
March 25, 2001. Specifically, the article reports that members of
the Cairns Group, the European Union and possibly other nations are
preparing to challenge the legality of several key domestic programs
such as the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact, milk price supports, the
Capper-Volstead Act, etc.
This news report is consistent with separate reports
issued by Dairy Farmers of Canada and the Dutch Dairy Association in
recent years. The Canadian report identified 99 U.S. programs as
subsidies subject to challenge at the World Trade Organization.
These program increased American farmers' milk price by $5.63 per
hundredweight, the Canadians allege. The Dutch report reached
similar conclusions - that federal milk marketing orders, regional dairy
compacts and other programs may be illegal because they increase farm
income and influence farm production decisions in a trade-distorting
manner.
The Canadian report suggests that federal feeding
programs also may be illegal under World Trade Organization rules.
The Women, Infants and Children Program and other federal nutrition and
feeding programs are important to the well being of many low-income
American families. Our request for guidance from you is
straightforward. Specifically, what important domestic programs,
including nutrition programs, federal farm policy options and even
farmer cooperatives, are at risk as agricultural trade negotiations
continue in Geneva?
Thanking you for your consideration of our request, we
remain
Sincerely,
 |
Chris Ortloff, Member of Assembly
R-110th District/Plattsburgh, NY |
Joe Plouff, State Representative
D-29th District/Menomonie, WI |
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