NCGA Responds to Mandelson’s Farm Policy Statements Following Suspension of Doha Trade Talks (7-26-06)

Calling European Union (EU) Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson’s comments about the failure of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round talks “irresponsible,” National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Chairman Leon Corzine said negotiators should be focusing on restarting talks to secure an agreement.

After the talks were suspended, Mandelson blamed the United States for the collapse and urged President George W. Bush to veto any attempt to extend the farm bill. Mandelson also noted U.S. agriculture’s current domestic support programs would be “far more vulnerable to a complaint in the WTO dispute settlement body.”

“Such statements and idle threats do not make for constructive reasons to engage in further discussions,” said Corzine, who is a member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Policy Advisory Committee for Trade. “Unfortunately, Mr. Mandelson’s comments are simply irresponsible, especially at this crucial moment when countries, including the United States, are working to ensure the talks are restarted. We need to secure an agreement that ensures a positive and beneficial outcome. The EU commissioner is basically threatening our programs, suggesting if we do not change our farm policies more litigation will be brought against the United States.”

The United States put forward a bold initiative last October to move the talks, and the response was a deafening silence from other nations in Geneva, Corzine said.

“U.S. negotiators did the right thing by refusing a bad deal,” he said. “American farmers were willing to accept sweeping changes to farm programs, but there has to be market access, and there was a complete lack of discussion from other countries on that point.”

NCGA supports trade agreements that will open markets for U.S. farmers and increase market development opportunities throughout the world.

Corzine said the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and U.S. Trade Ambassadors Rob Portman and Susan Schwab have all stated the farm bill will be written by Congress and not in Geneva.

The indefinite suspension of the Doha Round prompted renewed discussion on a possible extension of the 2002 farm bill, as well as development of new U.S. farm support programs.

Earlier this month, NCGA voting delegates agreed to evaluate alternative farm safety net options with a focus on a revenue-based farm bill that will be trade compliant and will provide a safety net to producers. Over the next several months, NCGA’s Public Policy Action Team is expected to develop more recommendations for the next farm bill with input from policy experts and other agriculture organizations.