IV

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 73

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 22, 1998

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress that the European Union

is unfairly restricting the importation of United States

agriculture products and the elimination of such restrictions should be a top priority in trade negotiations with

the European Union.

Whereas on a level playing field, United States producers are

the most competitive suppliers of agricultural products in

the world;

Whereas increased United States agricultural exports are

critical to the future of the farm, rural, and overall economy of the United States;

Whereas the opportunities for increased agricultural exports

are undermined by the unfair subsidies provided by trading partners of the United States, and by various tariff

and nontariff trade barriers imposed on highly-competitive United States agricultural products;
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SCON 73 RFH

Whereas United States agricultural exports reached a recordlevel $60,000,000,000 in 1996 compared to a total

United States merchandise trade deficit of

$170,000,000,000;

Whereas the United States is currently engaged in a number

of outstanding trade disputes with the European Union

regarding agriculture matters and the disputes involve

the most intractable issues between the United States

and the European Union;

Whereas the outstanding trade disputes include the failure to

finalize a veterinary equivalency program, which jeopardizes an estimated $3,000,000,000 in trade in livestock

products between the United States and the European

Union;

Whereas the World Trade Organization has ruled that the

European Union must allow the importation of beef with

growth hormones produced in the United States;

Whereas the European Union has yet to fulfill its commitment under the Agreement on Application of Sanitary

and Phytosanitary Measures reached as part of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade;

Whereas the European Union has promulgated regulations

regarding the use of ‘‘specified risk materials’’ for livestock products which have a disputed scientific basis and

which serve to impede the importation of United States

livestock products despite the fact that no cases of bovine

spongisorm encephalopathy (mad cow disease) have been

documented in the United States;

Whereas the European Union has hindered trade in products

grown with the benefit of biogenetics based on claims

that also have a disputed scientific basis;
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Whereas these barriers to biogenetic trade could have a profound negative impact on agricultural trade in the long

run; and

Whereas there are also continuing disputes regarding European Union subsidies for dairy, wheat gluten, and canned

fruits: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—

3 (1) the European Union unfairly restricts the

4 importation of United States agricultural products;

5 (2) the restrictions imposed on United States

6 agricultural exports to the European Union are the

7 most vexing problems facing United States exporters

8 in Europe;

9 (3) the elimination of restrictions imposed on

10 United States agricultural exports should be a top

11 priority of any current or future trade negotiations

12 between the United States and the European Union;

13 and

14 (4) the United States Trade Representative

15 should not engage in any trade negotiations with the

16 European Union that undermines the ability of the

17 United States to achieve the elimination of unfair
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1 restrictions imposed upon United States agricultural

2 exports to the European Union.

Passed the Senate May 21, 1998.

Attest: GARY SISCO,

Secretary.