[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 49 (Thursday, April 21, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E722]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           AGRICULTURAL TRADE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE KING

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 20, 2005

  Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I stand today in support of the U.S.-
Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement and the 
benefits it will provide to hardworking American farmers. Currently, 
the U.S. market is already fairly open to agricultural products from 
Central America and the Dominican Republic, but U.S. farmers face a 
variety of tariffs and other barriers when exporting to the DR-CAFTA 
countries. This agreement will eliminate those barriers, reciprocate 
open market access, and put American farmers on a level playing field.
  As the nation's top exporter of corn, with farm cash receipts of over 
$3.7 billion, corn producers from the great state of Iowa, which I 
represent, would benefit from the FTA. Recent price strength in U.S. 
pork markets is directly related to increased U.S. pork exports. Mexico 
is a good example. DR-CAFTA countries are also important export market 
for Iowa soybean farmers, who are the top exporters of soybeans. 
Nationwide these exports already account for 14 percent, a total of 1.0 
million metric tons or 58 million bushels. Finally, the Iowa beef 
industry would benefit from the FTA. In 2003, the U.S. found bovine 
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a Canadian cow causing us to have 
export challenges with Japan. The U.S. has lost valuable beef exports, 
and this FTA would help expand access and market potential.
  This Agreement will provide U.S. farmers with unequaled access to a 
large market with growing incomes and growing demands for agricultural 
and food products. The elimination of tariffs will provide American 
farmers with preferences over producers in Canada, Europe, and other 
countries. This will help to restore lost U.S. market share and 
increase overall exports to the five DR-CAFTA countries.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support American 
farmers and to support this very important piece of legislation.

                          ____________________