WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Collin C. Peterson (DFL-7th District) announced today that he has accepted the invitation of the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee to join him in an important round of talks with European agriculture leaders.
"I am pleased to be able to join Chairman Smith in this important discussion with the Europeans," Peterson said. "While our trade representatives have worked on these issues in the past, this is the first time the Agriculture Committee has traveled to Europe for direct talks with our counterparts."
According to Peterson, the meetings will be conducted with members of the European Union Parliament, local farmers and other leaders. Several agricultural issues will be addressed in reference to the upcoming round of WTO agriculture talks that are expected to begin in 1999. Peterson is particularly interested in the current European Union (EU) subsidy program. According to the U.S. wheat industry, some farmers within the E.U. collect the equivalent of $171 per acre even before they plant one seed.
"It is difficult for our farmers to understand why they are asked to compete in the world market when farmers elsewhere receive more money up front for their crop than we can even gross" Peterson noted. "I look forward to straight talk with the Europeans about their system and about establishing a sense of fairness for all our farmers."
Peterson, a critic of recent trade agreements, indicated that he believes that agriculture has not always been a priority in past trade negotiations.
"If we push for free trade and more open markets for U.S. products, we must make sure that agriculture is a player," Peterson concluded. "We cannot let agriculture become lost in future talks."