[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 150 (Tuesday, December 20, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: December 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      URUGUAY ROUND AGREEMENTS ACT

                                 ______


                               speech of

                            HON. TIM ROEMER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 29, 1994

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5110) to 
     approve and implement the trade agreements concluded in the 
     Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations:

  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 
5110, which will implement the agreements reached during the Uruguay 
round negotiations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and trade 
[GATT]. In my home district, there are diverse industries--aerospace 
components, pharmaceuticals, construction equipment, steel, and 
agricultural products--and all of these producers will benefit from the 
provisions included in H.R. 5510.
  For example, the AlliedSignal Aerospace, which manufactures carbon 
brakes and landing gear for commercial aircraft, will see great boosts 
in its potential to enter foreign markets. By providing better 
protection against unfair domestic subsidy practices by foreign 
governments, this new GATT agreement will allow domestic aerospace 
manufacturers to expand their markets beyond the 29 percent of 
production that is currently exported.
  The Third District of Indiana is a leading producer of 
pharmaceuticals. Miles Laboratories, which employs nearly 3,000 workers 
in North Central Indiana, expects to see great gains resulting form the 
implementation of the Uruguay round. GATT will not only significantly 
lower chemical tariffs but it will also improve intellectual property 
protection provisions, an important tool to research intensive 
businesses like Miles.
  GATT will be extremely beneficial to U.S. steelmakers, once again the 
world's leader's in steel production, by eliminating steel tariffs 
currently imposed by key trading partners. Most importantly, the GATT 
implementing legislation will ensure that U.S. laws against unfair 
trade remain available and effective. This is an important tool for 
companies like IN Tek and IN Kote, which are subsidiaries of Inland 
Steel that manufacture galvanized Steel in Indiana's Third District.
  One of the greatest benefits of GATT is the advantages it will lend 
to agriculture. With the reduction of tariff barriers and the increase 
in the world's purchasing power for U.S. commodities, Indiana farmers 
will see a significant increase in their export potential.
  According to Purdue University economists, ratification of GATT will 
bring tremendous gains to Indiana farmers. Estimates suggest gains to 
Indiana agriculture of $1.05 billion after full implementation of GATT. 
For corn and wheat producers, revenue should rise by nearly $750 
million. While I am concerned that some losses are expected for Indiana 
dairy producers due to the liberalization of import quotas to the U.S., 
I am pleased that implementing legislation extends authorization for 
the Dairy Export Incentive Program through 2001.
  I strongly support H.R. 5110, and urge my colleagues to adopt the 
GATT implementing legislation. This agreement will bring much-needed 
reforms to international trading practices and will further open 
foreign markets to U.S. goods, particularly those products produced in 
my home State of Indiana.

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