[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 98 (Thursday, July 18, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S7030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PESTICIDE HARMONIZATION ACT OF 2002

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to thank Senators Conrad and 
Roberts for holding an important hearing today in the Senate 
Agriculture Production and Price Competitiveness Subcommittee 
concerning S. 532, the Pesticide Harmonization Act. It is my pleasure 
to cosponsor this important legislation.
  Differences in the prices of agricultural pesticides in the United 
States and Canada are one of the most important issues in bilateral 
trade discussions. Grains harvested in the United States compete on the 
open market against grains grown in Canada. Much of Canadian grain is 
treated with pesticides substantially less expensive than those used in 
the United States. I feel it is necessary for the United States to 
allow growers to access Canadian pesticides in order to remain 
competitive on the open market. I commend Senator Dorgan for his 
leadership on this issue, as lead sponsor of this legislation, which 
would allow U.S. farmers to access chemicals approved in the U.S. but 
sold at discounted rates in Canada.
  Currently, farmers pay 117 to 193 percent higher pries in the U.S. 
than in Canada for virtually identical products. Canadian producers are 
applying less expensive pesticides to their crops and exporting their 
commodities to the U.S., where the same chemicals cannot be legally 
purchased at the Canadian reduced price by American producers. Our 
farmers are not allowed access to these pesticides, but must still 
compete with Canadian crops grown with these products.
  American farmers are at a clear disadvantage to Canadian farmers due 
to the price differences in agricultural pesticides. This is another 
example of how NAFTA has put American producers at a disadvantage. I 
did not support or vote for NAFTA, even though supporters claimed that 
the trade agreement would create free, equal trade between the U.S., 
Canada and Mexico. In fact, NAFTA contributes to the present 
agricultural pesticide differential pricing problem. Allowing Canada to 
export millions of bushels of grain into the U.S. without restriction 
was intended to create equal trade, but has instead placed our 
agricultural industry at a disadvantage.
  Furthermore, the agricultural disadvantage that hinders American 
farmers in this situation, benefits no one other than the pesticide 
industry. This industry sells the same product to Americans for twice 
the price that it is sold to the Canadians producers across the 
boarder.
  S. 532 would eliminate the competitive advantage Canadian producers 
have over American producers by amending the Federal Insecticide, 
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. This legislation would permit a State 
to register a Canadian pesticide for distribution and use within that 
State if the pesticide is substantially similar or identical to one 
already registered in the U.S.
  I am confident the time to act on this matter is now.

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