Newsline for October 6, 2000

WE HAVE TWO REPORTS FOR THE LONG, HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

I'M BOB ELLISON. OUR FIRST REPORT RUNS 1:08.

HERE IS A SUGGESTED LEAD: AMERICAN FARMERS ARE IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND TALKING TO FOREIGN TRADE OFFICIALS. BOB ELLISON HAS MORE.

ACTUALITIES COME FROM AMERICAN FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT BOB STALLMAN.

THERE ARE TWO EXTRA ACTUALITIES FOLLOWING THE STORY. IN THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY, STALLMAN SAYS THE EUROPEAN UNION IS A DIFFICULT TRADING PARTNER. IN THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY, STALLMAN SAYS INTERNATIONAL TRADE MUST BE CONDUCTED ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

STAND BY, THE STORY COMES FIRST IN 3...2...1...

(ELLISON) A DELEGATION OF AMERICAN FARM LEADERS IS TELLING FOREIGN OFFICIALS THAT WORLD TRADE MUST BE FREER AND FAIRER THAN IT IS NOW. AMERICAN FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT BOB STALLMAN IS IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND MEETING WITH EUROPEAN UNION AND WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION OFFICIALS.

(STALLMAN) OUR TOP ISSUE IS TO CONTINUE THE AGRICULTURAL NEGOTIATIONS AND GET FURTHER OPENINGS OF AGRICULTURAL MARKETS ACROSS THE WORLD FOR AMERICAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS. THAT'S THE PRIMARY GOAL.

(ELLISON) STALLMAN, WHO'S IN GENEVA WITH A GROUP OF STATE FARM BUREAU PRESIDENTS, SAYS HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE AGRICULTURE TRADE ISSUES ARE NOT IGNORED IN FUTURE W-T-O TALKS.

(STALLMAN) WE KNOW THE RISK THAT CAN OCCUR FOR AGRICULTURE IF AGRICULTURE IS PUSHED ON THE BACK AND WE GO FORWARD WITH FURTHER TRADE OPENING IN OTHER SECTORS. WE'VE KIND OF BEEN THERE BEFORE AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

(ELLISON) STALLMAN SAYS W-T-O OFFICIALS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS E-U TRADE RESTRICTIONS CREATE FOR U-S FARMERS.

(STALLMAN) THEIR EXPORT SUBSIDIES PROBABLY CREATE MORE PROBLEMS FOR US THAN ANYTHING. IN ADDITION THEY DO HAVE HIGH TARIFF BARRIERS AND RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT WE CAN SEND IN.

(ELLISON) FARMERS ARE WORKING TO THE LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR ANTICIPATED A W-T-O MEETING NEXT YEAR.

BOB ELLISON, WASHINGTON.

STAND BY FOR THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS TWELVE SECONDS, IN 3...2...1...

(STALLMAN) EVEN WITH DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEDURES THAT ARE IN PLACE WITH THE W-T-O AGREEMENT, WE WON THE BEEF CASE, THE BEEF HORMONE CASE AND THE BANANA CASE, BOTH, YET THE E-U STILL REFUSES TO IMPLEMENT THOSE DECISIONS.

(ELLISON) STAND BY FOR THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS TEN SECONDS, IN 3...2...1...

(STALLMAN) TRADE IS TRADE AND WE CAN'T GIVE ACCESS TO PROMOTE THE ECONOMIES OF OTHER COUNTRIES TO OUR CONSUMER MARKET WITHOUT US HAVING LIKE ACCESS IN TERMS OF AGRICULTURAL MARKETS.

(ELLISON) NOW STAND BY FOR OUR SECOND REPORT, WHICH RUNS 1:10.

HERE IS A SUGGESTED LEAD: MANY FARMERS ARE WELCOMING A CONGRESSIONAL AGREEMENT TO LIFT SANCTIONS ON CUBA. BOB ELLISON HAS MORE.

ACTUALITIES COME FROM ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT RON WARFIELD.

THERE ARE TWO EXTRA ACTUALITIES FOLLOWING THE STORY. IN THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY, WARFIELD SAYS FARMERS WOULD REALIZE LONG-TERM GAINS FROM SALES TO CUBA. IN THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY, WARFIELD SAYS DENYING CUBA U-S BANK LOANS IS A DRAWBACK IN THE PLAN.

STAND BY, THE STORY COMES FIRST IN 3...2...1...

(ELLISON) THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP SETS THE STAGE TO LIFT SANCTIONS ON CUBA, IRAN, LIBYA, SUDAN AND NORTH KOREA. ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT RON WARFIELD SAYS LIFTING SANCTIONS ON CUBA IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO THE UNITED STATES.

(WARFIELD) WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW AND I THINK IT'S BEEN FAIRLY RAPID MOVEMENT IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THESE SANCTIONS, OR AN EMBARGO AS WE CALL THEM, AGAINST SALES TO CUBA HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR FORTY YEARS.

(ELLISON) WARFIELD SAYS HE DOES DISAGREE WITH PART OF THE AGREEMENT THAT PREVENTS CUBA FROM USING UNITED STATES BANKS TO FINANCE THEIR PURCHASES.

(WARFIELD) THE ONLY PART THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED WAS USING G-S-M CREDITS AND HOW THE CREDIT PROVISIONS WOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE TO TRY TO EXPAND THE SALES THERE, SO THERE ARE SOME RESTRICTIONS IN THAT REGARD.

(ELLISON) WARFIELD SAYS OPENING NEW FOREIGN MARKETS TO FARMERS IS IMPORTANT IN LIGHT OF LOW COMMODITY PRICES AND LESS RELIANCE ON GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.

(WARFIELD) WE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO GROW THE MARKETS, TO EXPAND THE MARKETS FOR THE DEMAND FOR WHAT WE ARE PRODUCING IN ORDER TO BRING THOSE COMMODITY PRICES UP.

(ELLISON) THE U-S-D-A ESTIMATES THAT SHORT TERM EXPORTS TO CUBA COULD TOTAL THREE HUNDRED MILLION TO FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

BOB ELLISON, WASHINGTON.

STAND BY FOR THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS TWELVE SECONDS, IN 3...2...1...

(WARFIELD) THEY'VE ALREADY GOT SOME PURCHASES ON THE BOOKS OBVIOUSLY SO TO SAY THIS IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE MARKET TOMORROW, I DON'T WANT TO INFER THAT THIS IS GOING TO START IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVE HAD SOME CONTRACTS IN PLACES THAT THEY BUY FROM.

(ELLISON) STAND BY FOR THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS FOURTEEN SECONDS IN 3...2...1...

(WARFIELD) OVER TIME I HOPE THAT THOSE CREDIT DETAILS CAN BE WORKED OUT IN FUTURE LEGISLATION AS THIS MARKETING OPPORTUNITY DEVELOPS AND EXPANDS AND WE'LL CERTAINLY HAVE SOME HINDRANCE, BUT WE'VE OPENED THE DOOR AND THAT'S THE BIG NEWS.

(ELLISON) THE FARM BUREAU RADIO NEWSLINE WILL BE UPDATED WEDNESDAY AT 5 P.M. EASTERN TIME. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.