In the Uruguay round, developing countries received special treatment, including less stringent disciplines in reforming their trade policies than those applied to developed countries. In the Seattle round, developing countries will continue to have a particular interest in the area of special and differential treatment, export restraints, price stability, food security, food aid, and food reserve policies. As developing countries more clearly identify their objectives and positions, it should be expected that additional c oalitions of countries with common trade interests will emerge. American farmers and ranchers must compete in a global agricultural and food economy. The prices they receive are dependent on what their commodities will bring on the world market.
Fair trade requires access to markets on a level playing field, free from trade distorting policies.
American family farmers and ranchers can compete in a fair trade environment that includes transparent trade and market policies and equitable, enforceable rules that are consistently applied. American family producers should not be asked to compete with agricultural products that are produced under less stringent health, safety, environmental, labor and other standards that are required of U.S. farmers and ranchers. Nor should our family farms be asked to compete with merchandising and processing systems whose vested interest is to achieve market power based on the elimination of fair competition. The establishment of a short-term international conservation reserve during periods of excess supply of commodities. An International reserve to idle acreage would help support commodity prices, reduce government subsidy expenditures, as well as provide environmental and conservation benefits.