I don't think I've ever heard 'food security' defined so well. True food security means a serious, shared commitment to worldwide sustainable development. We're already crediting more liberalized trade and U.S. agricultural trade policy with our solid agricultural economy. U.S. policy-makers gave the agricultural community the opportunity to compete and win in world markets through the 1996 Farm Bill. But it was our farmers and ranchers, through innovation, technology, research, and export promotion, who turned it into solid export success.
Exports are the new safety net for U.S. agriculture.
The most current and compelling illustration is the Administration's close work with the 105th Congress for fast-track negotiating authority to streamline passage of trade agreements. President Clinton, who's visiting Argentina and Brazil this week, has made fast-track a high priority. He needs fast-track procedures to negotiate in the World Trade Organization and speed negotiations on a Free Trade Area of the Americas. Let me express U.S. appreciation to Brazil as the recent chair of the FTAA process and host of the third Trade Ministerial. We're looking forward to the next Trade Ministerial in Costa Rica and the start of FTAA negotiations at the Summit of the Americas in Santiago in April.