Glickman to Asia to view farm trade potentials<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON (Reuter): Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman goes
\nto Asia this week to discuss issues vital to agricultural trade,
\nbut says he has no specific trade deals to make.<\/p>\n
\"I chose Asia because about 40 percent of our exports go to
\nAsia, basically the largest single region,\" Glickman said over
\nthe weekend in a briefing on his upcoming two-week trip.<\/p>\n
\"The markets in Asia are explosive potentially, monumental
\ngrowth markets -- largely because of population growth and
\neconomic growth,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Taking advantage of a month-long congressional recess,
\nGlickman plans to leave Sunday 6 for Tokyo. He will then travel
\nto Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Seoul before
\nreturning to Washington on August 18.<\/p>\n
In the first trip to Asia by a top department official since
\nthe latest round of the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade was
\ncompleted, Glickman says increasing trade is a priority and plans
\nto meet with his counterparts to discuss ways to accomplish that.<\/p>\n
\"There are a lot of countries that are good markets that will
\nbecome much better markets in the future,\" he said. \"In this
\npost-GATT world we will be looking to break down barriers, tariff
\nand non-tariff barriers, wherever they exist.\"<\/p>\n
One concern Glickman expressed is the use of \"bad science\" as
\na non-tariff trade barrier, saying he doesn't want to see Pacific
\nRim countries use non-scientifically based regulations to
\nrestrict imports of U.S. farm goods.<\/p>\n
Farm exports in the current fiscal year are expected to hit a
\nrecord US$51.5 billion, with exports of meat, fruit and
\nvegetables all setting records as growing economies and the
\nweaker dollar boost consumer demand for a variety of foods.<\/p>\n
Glickman said all of Asia holds huge potential for U.S.
\nagriculture.<\/p>\n
Indonesia<\/p>\n
This fiscal year the U.S. also expects to ship more cotton to
\nIndonesia and more soybean and vegetable oil to Indonesia,
\nMalaysia and Singapore, while sales of U.S. livestock hides and
\nskins to South Korea are surpassing previous expectations.<\/p>\n
While in Hong Kong on Aug. 15 and 16, Glickman will meet with
\nrepresentatives of China's CEROIL Foods, the agency which handles
\nChina's grain import needs. China has become a huge market for
\nU.S. farm products.<\/p>\n
Glickman noted the recent political problems between
\nWashington and Beijing, but that official communication needs to
\nbe maintained between the two countries.<\/p>\n
\"China is too important of a country to isolate. Agriculture
\nis a very important part of bilateral relationship,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Glickman's visit to Seoul comes on the back of the so-called
\n\"hot-dog dispute,\" settled last month, which could mean up to a
\nbillion dollars worth of additional sales of U.S. pork and beef
\nto South Korea.<\/p>\n
Glickman will focus on a growing market for processed, high
\nvalue foods as well as bulk commodities and products.<\/p>\n
The two-week trip will also afford Glickman an opportunity to
\nmeet a broad range of U.S. customers ranging from ministers of
\nagriculture to retail shop owners.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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