Increasingly, corn will be exported as a livestock product, Schumacher said. Imports of livestock products are to increase to 8.5 billion compared with 8.1 billion last year. Wheat and flour are expected to decline to 3.6 billion, down from last year's 7 billion. Six of the top U.S. markets for ag exports will grow in 1997. Greatest focus will continue to be on the Pacific Rim and western hemisphere markets.
China is a big question mark.
It is a net exporter and a major competitor of similar products in our biggest growth areas, Schumacher said. But, FAS is working hard to cultivate markets in China, and a top U.S. policy challenge is China's assention to the WTO in 1999. Copyright Meredith Corporation 1997. All rights reserved.