IV
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. RES. 583
Expressing the sense of the House with respect to barriers between the
United States and Canada with regard to certain agriculture products.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 8, 1998
Mr. SMITH of Oregon (for himself, Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska, Mr. THUNE,
and Mr. HILL) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee
on Agriculture, for a period to subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the juris-
diction of the committee concerned
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House with respect to barriers
between the United States and Canada with regard to
certain agriculture products.
Whereas the Canadian beef industry benefits from being able
to freely market slaughter cattle and beef in the United
States through provisions contained within the Canadian
Free Trade Agreement, the North American Free Trade
Agreement, and the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade (hereinafter in this resolution referred to as
‘‘GATT’’);
Whereas through these agreements the Canadian beef sector
enjoys treatment that provides its beef producers a com-
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vided for in the North American Free Trade Agreement
(hereinafter in this resolution referred to as ‘‘NAFTA’’),
may go forwarded;
Whereas the practices of Canada in failing to expand market
access have a long term adverse impact on the domestic
production of American agricultural products; and
Whereas Canada has resisted efforts to expand market access
for dairy, poultry, and eggs, which it protects with lim-
ited minimum market access quotas and prohibitively
high tariffs, which for some products exceed 300 percent
ad valorem: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter in
this resolution referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’)
should analyze trade between the United States and
Canada with regard to beef, beef cattle, wheat, bar-
ley, dairy, poultry, and eggs and report the findings
to the Committee on Agriculture in the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry in the United States Senate;
(2) the report of the Secretary should include a
description, status, and analysis (including apparent
benefits and limitations to farmers and ranchers of
either country) of—
(A) the applicable general and specific pro-
visions of the GATT, CFTA, and NAFTA that
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facilitate or restrict trade in these commodities
and products between the 2 countries; and
(B) past, present, and anticipated future
actions and negotiations to resolve trade con-
cerns and complaints by either country with re-
spect to these commodities and products; and
(3) the Secretary should identify, analyze, and
report on the economic impact of trade agreements
and other agreements affecting trade between Can-
ada and the United States on the beef, wheat, and
barley sectors of both countries, including—
(A) an aggregate and regional analysis of
the impact on the beef, wheat, and barley in-
dustries; and
(B) a comparative national and regional
analysis of the impacts on specific segments of
the beef, wheat, and barley industries;
(4) the Secretary should analyze and report on
macroeconomic factors including currency exchange
rates and interest rates, which impact trade of agri-
cultural commodities between Canada and the
United States;
(5) based on the analyses described in this reso-
lution, the Secretary should identify any provisions
of the agreements and the implementation thereof
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that limit, inhibit, or otherwise restrict the ability of
the United States farmers and ranchers to benefit
from or mitigate the economic impact of trade be-
tween the United States and Canada;
(6) the Secretary should identify and analyze
the long term effect of the comparative advantage of
Canadian agricultural producers on the production
and competitiveness of American agricultural pro-
ducers; and
(7) the Secretary should identify and analyze
the long term effect of the lack of market access on
the production and competitiveness of American ag-
ricultural producers.
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