    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [June 23, 1998]
    [Pages 1022-1023]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Radio Remarks on the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education
    Reform Act of 1998
    June 23, 1998

        Today I signed into law a new bill to help expand opportunity for
    America's farmers. The agricultural research act will put funding for
    crop insurance on a sure footing for the future and boost investment on
    agricultural research and rural development.
        After Congress phased out Federal farm price supports, it became
    more essential for American farmers to sell grains, meats, fruits, and
    vegetables to markets around the world. And today, products from one of
    every three acres planted in America are sold abroad. Thanks to cutting-
    edge research, strong food safety standards, and innovations in
    biotechnology, our farmers enjoy advantages over their competitors
    around the world in many sectors. In fact, American farmers have become
    so productive and so advanced that agriculture should be considered
    another high-tech industry. By strengthening investment in research and
    technology, this bill will help our farmers retain that competitive edge
    so they can export more of what they grow and raise. But to secure the
    success of U.S. farmers in the global marketplace, we must do more.
        That's why we're also fighting hard to tear down unfair trade
    barriers, to stabilize Asian markets for our products, and to make sure
    that sanctions do not unfairly penalize American farmers. I've asked the
    World Trade Organization to take an aggressive approach to reducing
    tariffs and subsidies on agricultural products and to deliver better
    scientific-based rules to govern that trade. We're also fighting to
    enforce our trade agreements and have won critical agricultural
    disputes, including the European Union's restrictions on hormone-grown
    beef and greater access to pork in the Philippines. We will continue to
    use every tool at our disposal to ensure that agreements made are
    agreements kept. And I will push Congress to give the IMF the resources
    it needs to help stabilize the economies of Asia, which are such big
    markets for American farm products.
        Finally, we need to make sure that our sanctions policy furthers our
    foreign policy goals without hurting our farmers. That's why I support
    legislation that ensures that U.S. wheat will not be the unintended
    victim of an important nonproliferation law. Our policy has been and
    will be that food should not be used as a weapon. We'll resist any
    action that would lead to a de facto grain embargo.
        American farmers can continue to compete and win the global
    marketplace. To make sure that they do, I'll continue to fight to make
    sure

    [[Page 1023]]

    they're given a fair chance to build a better future for themselves and
    their families.

    Note: The President's remarks were recorded on the morning of June 23 in
    the Oval Office at the White House for later broadcast. S. 1150,
    approved June 23, was assigned Public Law No. 105-185.