{
  "id": "RL31841",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL31841",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 101573,
      "date": "2003-04-03",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-08T14:48:55.459544",
      "title": "Agricultural Trade Issues in the 108th Congress",
      "summary": "Agricultural exports contribute to the prosperity of the U.S. agricultural economy. Their value\nis\nprojected at $57 billion for FY2003, and they are expected to grow over the long term. These\nexports are the equivalent of about a quarter of the gross income of U.S. farmers and generate both\nfarm and nonfarm employment. U.S. agricultural imports, expected to reach $43 billion in FY2003,\nare fostered by low average U.S. tariffs, the relative strength of the U.S. dollar, and consumer tastes\nand preferences for high value food products, the largest component of imports. A large share of\nagricultural imports compete against U.S. products, but they also generate economic activity in the\nU.S. economy.\n  Although many world economic and other factors influence exports, many farm groups believe\nthat U.S. agriculture's future prosperity also depends on such U.S. trade policies as 1) negotiating\nimproved market access for U.S. products bilaterally, regionally, and multilaterally; 2) assuring\nmarket access and consumer acceptance at home and abroad for products of agricultural\nbiotechnology; 3) assuring that China adheres to its World Trade Organization (WTO) agricultural\nmarket access commitments; and 4) resolving contentious commodity trade disputes. Some farm\ngroups, mainly producers of import-sensitive commodities, question opening U.S. markets to foreign\ncompetition. Agricultural trade issues that are being or could be considered during the 108th\nCongress\ninclude:\n  Free trade agreements  (FTAs) with Chile and Singapore, which Congress will\ntake up according\nto expedited or fast track procedures in the Trade Act of 2002 ( P.L. 107-210 ). The 2002 Trade Act\nalso requires congressional-executive branch consultation on trade negotiations, which currently\ninclude negotiation of FTAs with 12 other countries or regional groups, negotiations with 34\nwestern hemisphere countries for the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), and multilateral\ntrade negotiations in the WTO.\n  Biotechnology regulations  in other countries, especially in the EU, which will\naffect U.S.\ncommodity exports.\n  China's implementation of its WTO market opening commitments for\nagriculture , which has\nbeen slow and uncertain, and has failed to meet expectations of U.S. agricultural exporters.\n  Country-of-origin labeling  for meats, fresh produce, seafood and peanuts,\nestablished by the 2002\nfarm bill, but whose implementation has raised questions about benefits versus compliance costs.\n  Other trade issues of interest to the 108th Congress include  commodity trade\n disputes  over\ncotton, wheat, meat and poultry, and sweeteners; the scope of restrictions that should apply to\n agricultural sales to Cuba ; and funding for  U.S. agricultural export and\nfood aid programs.  \n  This report will be updated.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
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      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Agricultural Policy",
    "Foreign Affairs"
  ]
}