Coalition to Promote U.S. Agriculture Exports

March 26, 2004 -- The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) joined more than 80 agricultural groups in signing a statement to promote U.S. agricultural exports. The statement, drafted by the Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports, was submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies, in support of FY ?05 funding.

An excerpt from the statement reads, ?For FY 05, the Farm Bill authorized funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) at $140 million and Foreign Market Development (FMD) is authorized at $34.5 million. The Coalition strongly urges that both programs be funded at the full authorized levels in order to carry out important market development activities.?

These programs are among the few tools specifically allowed under WTO rules to help American agriculture and American workers remain competitive in a global marketplace still characterized by subsidized foreign competition. By any measure, these programs have been tremendously successful and extremely cost-effective in helping maintain and expand U.S. agricultural exports, protect American jobs and strengthen farm income. The USDA?s export programs, like MAP and FMD, are a key part of an overall trade strategy that is pro-growth, pro-trade and pro-job.

ASI is a national cooperator with the programs to promote sales of American wool.??

Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

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