02/19/07 Importance of Doha to Corn

Importance of Doha to Corn. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab and U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns have both made it clear that it's important for every President to have Trade Promotion Authority. But they aren't alone in that belief. A number of agricultural groups have joined together to urge Congress to extend trade promotion authority - currently set to expire later this year. The National Corn Growers Association is one member-led organization that supports an extension. NCGA President Ken McCauley says the nation's corn growers are doing everything they can to ensure the President continues to have this authority throughout 2007 and beyond. According to McCauley - it's essential that Congress votes to extend the so-called fast-track authority - especially given the current state of the Doha Round of World Trade talks. MCCAULEY: The negotiators need to know on the other side of the table from us that we can make the decision and we can follow through and it doesn't end up in debate in our Congress. That just really gives the signal that when they make the deal that it will get done. With trade promotion authority - the President can send trade deals to Congress and force an up or down vote on the agreement without amendments. Many believe that's the key to Doha. In fact - some have said an extension of trade promotion authority may be the only way to keep the round going if an agreement isn't reached soon. McCauley says he's not willing to go that far - but he says TPA certainly will make a difference. MCCAULEY: I can't say that if TPA isn't extended that Doha will go away because you just don't want to say that this will cause something else to happen. But we think it's really important it does get extended and it will strengthen our negotiators position quite a bit. These negotiators need to have all the power they can because this is a tough business. We've got a lot at stake and we need to make sure that we continue the good trade relationships and we get what we're asking for. McCauley says that includes market access. He says market access is vital to the U.S. ag industry. He says it's critical to the movement of U.S. ag products into overseas markets. And currently - he says that's especially important to the livestock industry - and in turn - the rest of agriculture. MCCAULEY: With corn prices going up and their feed costs, if we could actually find a new route for some of these cattle and hogs and poultry, then we could actually make up the extra difference in the cost for the livestock and I think it would make a huge difference in all of agriculture. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.