AgTrade News Release

WASHINGTON, October 11, 2005 — The AgTrade coalition today called for significant progress in the WTO talks on agriculture in the lead-up to the Hong Kong Ministerial and applauded U.S. leadership in its commitment to move the negotiations forward. The coalition called on WTO trading partners to match U.S. moves on trade-distorting domestic support with equally ambitious, harmonized tariff reductions and export competition commitments. Both developed and export-competitive developing countries must accept ambitious outcomes in all three pillars.

The coalition emphasized that the negotiations cannot be successfully concluded, nor will they be politically viable, without substantial and enforceable market access liberalization by developed and developing countries. The coalition believes that such bold actions by all trading partners will ensure that the Doha Development Round will result in commercially meaningful market openings for U.S. farmers, ranchers, processors, and agribusinesses.

Altria Group, Inc.

American Farm Bureau Federation

American Feed Industry Association

American Meat Institute

American Peanut Product Manufacturers, Inc.

American Potato Trade Alliance

American Soybean Association

Animal Health Institute

Archer Daniels Midland Company

Biotechnology Industry Organization

Blue Diamond Growers

Bunge North America, Inc.

California Grape and Tree Fruit League

California Table Grape Commission

Cargill, Incorporated

Corn Refiners Association

Cranberry Marketing Committee

CropLife America

Distilled Spirits Council of the United States

Food Products Association

Grocery Manufacturers Association

Holly Tree Farm

International Dairy Foods Association

Louis Dreyfus Corporation

National Cattlemen's Beef Association

National Chicken Council

National Grain & Feed Association

National Grain Trade Council

National Oilseed Processors Association

National Pork Producers Council

National Potato Council

National Renderers Association

North American Export Grain Association

North American Millers Association

Pet Food Institute

RB International

Sweetener Users Association

United Egg Association

United Egg Producers

United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association

United States Dry Bean Council

USA Poultry and Egg Export Council

USA Rice Federation

U.S. Apple Association

U.S. Dairy Export Council

U.S. Grains Council

U.S. Hides, Skin & Leather Association

U.S. Livestock Genetics, Inc.

U.S. Meat Export Federation

Western Growers Association

Wheat Export Trade Education Committee

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Contact: Bob Cummings, (703) 236-1473, rcummings@usarice.com