FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 18, 1998
CONTACT: Dana Hagerty 202/225-2165
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Collin C. Peterson (DFL-7th District) announced today that the House Agriculture Committee has passed the Selective Embargoes Act with an amendment that would exempt all agricultural credit and food programs from sanctions against the nations of India and Pakistan that occurred as a result of section 102 (b) of the Arms Export Control Act. Peterson is a co-sponsor of the measure.
"In Northwest Minnesota, things are bad enough for the farmers without them having to deal with these types of sanctions," Peterson said. "Farmers all over America are already experiencing historically low grain prices, and sanctions like this could cause them to be locked out of a market of 1.1 billion consumers.
"When Pakistan and India detonated nuclear devices last month, the U.S. implemented sanctions as required by law," Peterson said. "However, these sanctions would force India and Pakistan to get their agricultural exports from America's largest competitors."
The amendment added to the Selective Embargoes Act will change the current statute to specifically exempt agricultural products and credit programs from any embargo against foreign nations. The bill also requires Congressional approval if the President imposes an agriculture specific embargo on a foreign country.