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WTO Listening Session
Des Moines, Iowa
July 12, 1999
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AMBASSADOR SCHER: It looks like I'm the only
thing standing between you and lunch which is probably not a good situation to be in, so
let me just briefly thank all of you. I also wanted to acknowledge Catherine Cornelious
from agriculture services for organizing all of these forums around the country. She's
actually been to all of the forums as well, and the amount of work that goes into it, and
I know she's worked closely with Secretary Judge and her staff. These are very helpful. I think all of us can agree on one thing. Washington can be a very (inaudible) place, and it is so important for us to hear directly what your concerns are, what the problems are, what barriers you're facing so that when we try to negotiate the right agreements, we get as close to the mark as possible. And we have a tough couple of years ahead. I don't need to tell any of you that. The one thing I would say is stick with us. We want to do the right thing by you and we want to do the right thing for you and we want to do the right thing with you. And it is critical that as we enter these negotiations in December and we proceed over the next couple of years in negotiating this agreement that you're there with us advising us, encouraging us on, sending the signal to other countries how important this is to the future of America's farm and ranch families. The global marketplace has been a benefit to American agriculture and has to be a benefit in the years ahead if we do it the right way, and I am looking forward to working with all of you and the Secretary and people through the country as we proceed to do right by America's farmers. Thank you very much. MR. BLOUIN: Ambassador, thank you. Secretary Glickman, it's good to see you again. Thanks very much for being here. We're going to break until 1:15 to give you a chance to get something to eat. (A recess was taken.) |
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