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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATIONAL CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION
Contact: Mimi Ricketts,
NCGA
(636) 733-9004, ext. 112
As
WTO Ministerial Nears, NCGA Reaffirms Support for Trade Liberalization
WASHINGTON (September
8, 2003) -- The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today stated
its firm support for trade liberalization as agriculture groups prepare
to attend the fifth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization
(WTO) this week in Cancun, Mexico.
Joining NCGA at
a press conference in Washington, D.C., were representatives from the
American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, Wheat
Export Trade Education Committee, National Milk Producers Federation,
USA Rice Federation and the American Sugarbeet Growers Association.
Speaking at the
press conference, Jon Doggett, NCGA vice president public policy, said,
“Trade is an important part of the daily lives of corn growers.
NCGA has and will continue to be a strong supporter of trade policies
that focus on liberalizing markets and eliminating barriers to trade.”
One out of every
five rows of corn is exported with exports of value-added corn and co-products
adding to the importance of foreign markets for U.S. corn producers.
Last year, the United States exported over 47 million metric tons of
bulk corn worth an estimated $4.8 billion.
Regarding the so-called
“three pillars” of trade liberalization, NCGA supports the
elimination of export subsidies, harmonization of tariffs and harmonization
of domestic support levels. “We strongly believe that liberalization
of trade is a proven way to raise the standard of living for developed
and developing countries. The negotiations this week provide a unique
opportunity for members of the World Trade Organization to reform international
markets for agriculture products and realize the promise of the Doha
Ministerial Declaration,” continued Doggett.
NCGA will attend
the Cancun Ministerial as a non-governmental organization (NGO). Representing
NCGA will be President Fred Yoder of Plain City, Ohio; President-elect
Dee Vaughan of Dumas, Texas; and Trade Task Force Chairman Doug Boisen
of Minden, Neb.
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The National Corn
Growers Association mission is to create and increase opportunities
for corn growers in a changing world and to enhance corn’s profitability
and usage. NCGA represents more than 33,000 members, 25 affiliated state
corn grower organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute
to state checkoff programs.
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