08/29/05 Advice on ag trade matters

When it comes to how the Pacific Northwest's diverse agriculture industry fares in improving existing global markets, or perhaps tearing down trade barriers to new ones, it is fair to say that our region's ag leaders will have significant input. That's because several Northwest ag types have recently been appointed to a group of seven federal trade advisory committees. These committees are a big deal. First, the appointments are made by none other than U.S.D.A. Secretary Mike Johanns and U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman. And second, as Chris Schlect of the Northwest Horticultural Council, and recent reappointee to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee on Trade, points out & SCHLECT: That committee presents information and suggestions and considers points on trade for the Secretary of Agriculture and the United States Trade Representative in terms of trade negotiations. For example, the Doha Round that's going on right now. The A.P.A.C. is made up of a broad spectrum of ag representation, for example, Schlect's expertise on the Northwest tree fruit industry. There are six specialty committees & Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees on Trade & that cover trade matters in distinct commodity sectors. Five of the six A.T.A.C.'s contain Northwest representation. Schlect's colleague on the Northwest Hort Council, Mark Powers, is serving another term as a member of A.T.A.C. on fruits and vegetables. Input from several Northwest fruit and veggie commodities can be had on this committee, as members include Powers, Skagit Valley Washington potato farmer Roger Knutsen, and Washington State University Small Farms Program official Malaquis Flores. The A.T.E.C. for trade in processed Foods has a Northwest voice & J.R. Simplot's Mark Dunn. If the government wants input on the sugar industry, it can turn to A.T.A.C. for trade in sweeteners member Ralph Burton of Amalgamated Sugar Company. And if it is a trade matter affecting Northwest grain, feed, or oilseed crops, then U.S.D.A. and U.S.T.R. can turn to two A.T.A.C. for trade committee members in that realm, Mark Anderson of Ellensburg's Anderson Hay Company, and U.S.A. Dry Pea and Lentil Council Executive Director Tim McGreevy. MCGREEVY: We have been very involved particularly with the Andean F.T.A., which is being negotiated right now and informing U.S.T.R. and our U.S.D.A. office about the current disadvantage we have as an industry to Canada, our primary competitor. The current appointees will serve on their respective committees through May 2007.