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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATIONAL CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION
CONTACT: Mimi
Ricketts, NCGA, 636-733-9004, ext. 112
July 23, 2004
NCGA Applauds Passage of U.S. - Morocco Free Trade Agreement
WASHINGTON (July 23, 2004) –The
National Corn Growers Association applauds Congress for passing by
overwhelming margins the U.S.-Morocco
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) this week.
“This forward-looking agreement is balanced and represents a
good market opportunity for corn growers and U.S. Agriculture overall,” noted
National Corn Growers Association President Dee Vaughan. ”The
vote illustrates Congress’ commitment to being a strong force
on behalf of trade in the international marketplace.”
The legislation passed the
Senate July 21 by a vote of 85 to 13; the House followed with its
approval July 22 with a vote of 323 to 99. “Chairmen
(Charles) Grassley and (Bill) Thomas should be applauded for their
hard work and quick action this week,” said Vaughan.
“The National Corn Growers Association would also like to thank
President Bush, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick and Agriculture
Ambassador Allen Johnson for a job well done. This agreement would
not have been possible if not for their tireless efforts and the hard
work of the U.S. negotiating team. They continue to show their strong
support and commitment to U.S. agriculture,” said Vaughan.
The Morocco FTA cuts the tariff on U.S. corn initially in half (to
17.5 percent for lower value per ton shipments based on its reference
price system), and then proceeds to zero by year six based on linear
reductions.
“The Morocco FTA provides U.S. exports a significant advantage
in the Moroccan market,” said Doug Boisen, chair of NCGA’s
Joint Trade Policy A-Team. Morocco has a strong demand for U.S. feed grains and driving Morocco’s feed grain demand is
poultry production, the fastest growing meat production sector in
Morocco. The duty-free corn would save the Moroccan poultry and livestock
industries approximately $30 million per year based on current imports
and applied duties.
Also this week, NCGA, along with 27 other commodity organizations,
sent a letter to the Senate and House of Representatives, supporting
the Morocco FTA, urging passage of the pact.
The letter stated the agreement
could lead to $260 million in increased sales per year by 2015, while
Morocco agricultural sales to the U.S.
would increase by $25 million. The agreement will also help maintain
U.S. agriculture’s competitiveness in the market as well as help
to streamline and expedite U.S. sales.
”Corn growers support an aggressive trade agenda and we applaud
Congress for the vote this week. Together, we can expand market opportunities
that will help the U.S. corn industry remain competitive and profitable
in the years to come,” concluded Vaughan.
To view the letter in its entirety, please visit the letters section
at the NCGA web site, www.ncga.com.
# # #
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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