Countries which were once corn importers have now become significant exporters. In 1996 China imported 1.5 million metric tons of corn. This year China may export up to 6 million metric tons of corn. The United States is still the world leader in agricultural production, but we no longer own the same sizable advantage over international producers that we once enjoyed. For America s agricultural community to remain competitive Congress must advance an agenda which provides American producers with greater opportunities in the world marketplace.
International trade is an essential factor determining commodity prices.
Embargoes or sanctions often have unintended consequences that fall unfairly on our farmers. We remember the 1980 Soviet grain embargo. The world got the impression that the U.S. could not be considered a reliable supplier of wheat. The past 18 years have been spent attempting to change that impression. Since the passage of the Freedom to Farm legislation in 1996, American farmers have looked to the marketplace instead of a federal bureaucrat when marketing their commodities.